BCBP Reports Second Quarter 2021 Earnings
July 19, 2021
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Net interest margin was 3.48 percent for the first six months of 2021, compared to 2.54 percent for the first six months of 2020. The increase in the net interest margin compared to the prior-year period was the result of the volatile financial markets in 2020 attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and the low interest rate environment. Management has been proactive in managing the Company’s cost of funds and has significantly decreased the average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities, while improving the average yield on interest-earning assets for the first six months of 2021 compared to the first six months of 2020. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Company has been able to increase its average balance of loans receivable for the first six months of 2021 as compared to the first six months of 2020. The decrease in cost of funds and the increase in the yield on interest-earning assets highlight management’s efforts to maintain a strong net interest margin.
Total non-interest income increased by $3.0 million, or 166.3 percent, to $4.8 million for the first six months of 2021 from $1.8 million for the first six months of 2020. The increase in total non-interest income was mainly related to $1.4 million in BOLI income, an increase of $877,000 in fees and service charges, an increase in the gain on sale of loans of $374,000, a gain on the sale of premises of $371,000 and an increase of $301,000 in unrealized gains on equity securities, partly offset by a decrease in other non-interest income of $270,000. The BOLI income relates to an initial purchase of $60.0 million of BOLI product in the third quarter of 2020, and an additional purchase of $8.5 million in the first quarter of 2021. The higher fees and service charges related primarily to $472,000 of referral fees for PPP loans. The gains on loan sales are based on market conditions. The decrease in other non-interest income related primarily to the reversal of certain liabilities previously recorded for IAB acquired loans that paid during the first six months of 2020. The gain on the sale of premises results from the sale of a branch office.
Total non-interest expense increased by $424,000, or 1.6 percent, to $26.7 million for the first six months of 2021 from $26.3 million for the first six months of 2020. Salaries and employee benefits expense was unchanged at $13.1 million for the first six months of 2021 and 2020, despite having $1.1 million of costs deferred for PPP loans in the prior year period. The PPP costs deferred in the prior-year period represent salaries and benefit costs associated with direct PPP loan origination cost. The number of full-time equivalent employees for the six months of 2021 was 300, as compared with 356 for the same period in 2020. The Company recognized an expense of $734,000 for a loss on extinguishment of debt, related to the prepayment of higher-cost FHLB borrowings in the six months ended June 30, 2021.
The income tax provision increased by $4.1 million, or 188.1 percent, to $6.3 million for the first six months of 2021 from $2.2 million for the first six months of 2020. The increase in the income tax provision was a result of higher taxable income for the first six months of 2021 as compared to that same period for 2020. The consolidated effective tax rate for the first six months of 2021 was 29.4 percent compared to 29.5 percent for the same period of 2020.
Asset Quality
During the second quarter of 2021, the Company recognized $300,000 in net charge-offs, compared to $8,000 in net recoveries for the second quarter of 2020.
The provision for loan losses decreased by $1.0 million, to $2.3 million, for the second quarter of 2021, compared to $3.3 million for the second quarter of 2020. The decrease was primarily due to improved COVID-19 related economic metrics. The Bank had non-accrual loans totaling $22.2 million, or 0.94 percent, of gross loans at June 30, 2021, as compared to $16.4 million, or 0.70 percent, of gross loans at December 31, 2020.
Performing troubled debt restructured (“TDR”) loans that were not included in nonaccrual loans at June 30, 2021, were $12.6 million, compared to $13.8 million at December 31, 2020. Borrowers who are in financial difficulty and who have been granted concessions (excluding COVID-19 modifications) that may include interest rate reductions, term extensions, or payment alterations, are categorized as TDR loans.
The allowance for loan losses was $37.5 million, or 1.59 percent of gross loans at June 30, 2021, and $33.6 million, or 1.44 percent of gross loans at December 31, 2020. The allowance for loan losses was 169.0 percent of non-accrual loans at June, 30, 2021, and 205.2 percent of non-accrual loans at December 31, 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to the global economy, but the extent and duration of the disruption remains uncertain. Management will continue to monitor any activity for loan deferment requests and delinquencies on a regular basis.