BCBP Reports Fourth Quarter 2020 Earnings
January 28, 2021
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to a private investor group in September, 2020. The unrealized gains or losses on equity securities are based on market conditions. The BOLI income relates to an initial purchase of $60.0 million of BOLI product in the third quarter of 2020. The increase in other noninterest income related primarily to the reversal of $295,000 of liabilities previously recorded for IAB acquired loans that paid off in 2020. The lower level of loan sales was attributable to the curtailment of loan growth, while the decline in fees and service charges related in part to the pandemic condition as well as lower servicing fee income resulting from fewer loan sales.
Total noninterest expense decreased by $1.5 million, or 2.8 percent, to $54.0 million for the year 2020, from $55.5 million for 2019.
Salaries and employee benefits expense decreased by $2.5 million, or 8.9 percent, to $25.9 million for 2020, from $28.4 million for 2019, primarily related to $1.3 million of costs deferred for PPP loans and fewer full-time equivalent employees, partly offset by normal compensation increases. The costs deferred represent current period salaries and benefit costs associated with direct PPP loan origination costs. The average number of full-time equivalent employees for the year 2020 was 329, as compared with 361 in 2019.
Occupancy and equipment expense increased by $1.1 million, or 10.2 percent, to $11.7 million for 2020, from $10.6 million for 2019, largely related to building sanitization costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the addition of the Newark branch during 2020.
Professional fees expense decreased $351,000, or 17.3 percent, to $1.7 million for the year 2020, from $2.0 million for 2019, primarily related to a legal matter settled in the prior-year period.
Data processing and service fees increased by $625,000, or 19.6 percent, to $3.8 million for 2020 from $3.2 million for 2019, largely attributable to additional branches and system applications.
Regulatory assessments increased by $430,000, or 47.0 percent, to $1.3 million for 2020, from $914,000 for 2019. The increase was primarily related to the receipt of FDIC Small Bank Assessment Credits of $548,000 in 2019, and increases in the assessment rate and in the assessment base.
The Company recognized an expense of $1.1 million for a loss on extinguishment of debt for 2020, related to prepayments of high-cost FHLB borrowings.
Other noninterest expense decreased by $1.9 million, or 22.7 percent, to $6.6 million for 2020, from $8.5 million for 2019. Other noninterest expense consisted of loan expense, business development, office supplies, correspondent bank fees, telephone and communication and miscellaneous fees and expenses. The decrease in the current period was primarily related to a reduction of business development and loan-related expenses, largely attributable to the current pandemic condition.
The income tax provision decreased by $743,000, or 8.0 percent, to $8.6 million for 2020, from $9.3 million for 2019. The decrease in the income tax provision was a result of lower taxable income for 2020, as compared to 2019. The consolidated effective tax rate for 2020 was 29.1 percent compared to 30.7 percent for 2019. The lower rate in the current period related primarily to non-taxable BOLI income and lower non-deductible costs in the current year period.
Asset Quality
During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recognized $464,000 in net recoveries, compared to $482,000 in net charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to the global economy, but the extent and duration of the disruption is uncertain at this time. Management will continue to monitor any activity for loan deferment requests and delinquencies on a regular basis.
The provision for loan losses increased by $2.4 million, to $1.9 million, for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to a credit of $475,000 for the fourth quarter of 2019; this increase was primarily due to COVID-19 related factors. The provision for loan losses increased by $7.4 million to $9.4 million for the year 2020 from $2.1 million for 2019. The Bank had non-accrual loans totaling $16.4 million, or 0.70 percent, of gross loans at December 31, 2020, as compared to $4.2 million, or 0.19 percent, of gross loans at December 31, 2019.