CORNELIUS, N.C., July 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries ("Aquesta") (OTC Market symbol AQFH) – including its subsidiary Aquesta Bank announced today net income for the second quarter of 2021 (three month period ending June 30, 2021). For the second quarter of 2021, Aquesta had unaudited income from continuing operations of $1.9 million (35 cents per share) compared to the second quarter of 2020 net income of $1.4 million (26 cents per share). Thus, earnings excluding merger related expenses grew at 34.0 percent in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the second quarter of 2020. For the six month period ended June 30, 2021, Aquesta had had unaudited income from continuing operations of $4.4 million compared to the six month period ended June 30, 2020 of $2.3 million. This is an increase of $2.1 million or 92.4 percent.

Additionally, the Board of Directors has declared the payment of Aquesta's ninth consecutive annual cash dividend in the amount of 14 cents per share to shareholders of record as of September 15, 2021. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2021.

Jim Engel, CEO and President of Aquesta, said, "I am pleased to announce another quarter of excellent earnings growth and our annual dividend. In addition to our continued very good performance and dividend, this is also an exciting time as we announced the proposed sale of Aquesta including its wholly-owned subsidiary, Aquesta Bank, to United Community Banks, Inc. (‘UCBI') on May 27, 2021. We believe that our partnership with UCBI will prove beneficial not only to our shareholders, but also our customers, employees and communities as UCBI offers expanded products and services while maintaining a strong focus on customer and community service."

Key Highlights

Announced the proposed sale of Aquesta Financial Holdings to United Community Banks, Inc. (NASDAQ:UCBI) for $131 million in a combination of cash and stock. The sale is expected to be finalized later this year.
Total core deposit growth of $102.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 or 20.8 percent (annualized 41.6 percent). Core deposit growth was due to Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loan related deposits as well as organic growth.
Growth in earnings from continuing operations for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months June 30, 2020 of $483 thousand or 34.0 percent. Additionally, earnings from continuing operations for the six months ended June 30, 2021 grew by $2.1 million or 92.4 percent compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020.
The Board of Directors declared the payment of Aquesta's ninth consecutive annual cash dividend in the amount of 14 cents per share to shareholders of record as of September 15, 2021. The dividend is payable on September 30, 2021.

Solid Balance Sheet Growth

At June 30, 2021, Aquesta's total assets were $736.1 million compared to $680.2 million at December 31, 2020. Total loans were $523.6 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $554.9 million at December 31, 2020. Decrease in loans primarily relates to forgiveness of PPP loans. PPP loan forgiveness totaled $96.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. Core deposits were $597.1 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $494.3 million at December 31, 2020.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets were at $1.1 million as of June 30, 2021 compared to $6.1 million as of December 31, 2020. Aquesta had $939 thousand in non-accrual loans as of June 30, 2021 compared to $5.7 million as of December 31, 2020. The decrease in the non-accrual loan balance relates primarily to a paydown received on a single non-accrual loan in the second quarter of 2021.

Aquesta held Other Real Estate Owned (i.e., "OREO" or foreclosed property) of $120 thousand as of June 30, 2021 compared to $381 thousand as of December 31, 2020. Decrease in OREO balance was due to the sale of one of the foreclosed properties in the second quarter of 2021.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $11.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $8.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. This is an increase of $3.3 million or 37.5 percent. Net interest margin for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was 3.44 percent compared to 3.14 percent for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in net interest income and net interest margin is associated with an increased reliance on lower cost core deposits replacing higher cost funding. Additionally, Aquesta was able to accrete $2.1 million of PPP fees into interest income for PPP loans that were held, forgiven, or paid off during the first six months of 2021.

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses was $207 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The decrease is due to management's 2020 response to the COVID-19 pandemic and an estimation of any resulting potential losses in the loan portfolio.

The ratio of allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL") to total loans is 1.01% as of June 30, 2021. The ratio of ALLL to total loans, excluding PPP loans, is 1.21% as of June 30, 2021. The ratio of ALLL to total loans, excluding PPP loans and balances guaranteed by the SBA, is 1.33% as of June 30, 2021.

Non Interest Income

Non interest income was $1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $1.3 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2020. This is an increase of $703 thousand or 54.6 percent. The increase is largely attributable to SBA loan sale income which totaled $690 thousand and $242 thousand as of June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020, respectively.

Non Interest Expense

Non interest expense was $8.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $5.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Personnel expense was at $4.9 million as of June 30, 2021 compared to $3.1 million as of June 31, 2020. The increase in personnel expense is due to the deferral of salary related costs incurred with the closing and funding of PPP loans that occurred in 2020.

Occupancy expense increased by $42 thousand for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ending June 30, 2020. The increase is due to the addition of the Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina branch in January 2021. While the lease began in January 2021, the Mt. Pleasant branch has not opened for business as of June 30, 2021 but is expected to in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Below are the financial highlights for comparison

Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc.
Select Financial Highlights
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

		06/30/21		12/31/20
		(unaudited)		(audited)
Period End Balance Sheet Data:
Loans	$	523,638	$	554,952
Allowance for loan and lease losses		5,290		5,319
Investment securities		65,296		52,535
Total assets		736,146		680,168
Core deposits		597,076		494,345
CDs and IRAs		43,622		63,623
Shareholders equity		62,059		58,549

Ending shares outstanding*		5,503,315		5,473,205
Book value per share*		11.28		10.70
Tangible book value per share*		11.27		10.69

*assumes conversion of Series A Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock

		For the three months ended				For the six months ended
		06/30/21		06/30/20		06/30/21		06/30/20
		(unaudited)		(audited)		(unaudited)		(audited)
Income and Per Share Data:
Interest income	$	6,600	$	5,668	$	13,543	$	11,344
Interest expense		767		1,208		1,561		2,627
Net interest income		5,833		4,460		11,982		8,717
Provision for loan losses		-		808		207		1,133
Net interest income after
provision for loan losses		5,833		3,652		11,775		7,584
Non interest income		697		657		1,990		1,287
Non interest expense		4,120		2,503		8,068		5,947
Income before income taxes		2,410		1,806		5,697		2,924
Income tax expense		508		387		1,271		624
Income from continuing operations		1,902		1,419		4,426		2,300
Merger related expenses		477		-		477		-
Related income tax benefit		110		-		110		-
Net Income		1,535		1,419		4,059		2,300

		For the three months ended						For the six months ended
		06/30/21			06/30/20			06/30/21		06/30/20
		(unaudited)			(audited)			(unaudited)		(audited)

Earnings per share - basic*	$	0.28		$	0.26		$	0.74	$	0.42
Earnings per share - diluted*		0.26			0.25			0.69		0.40
Weighted average shares - basic*		5,503,315			5,473,727			5,498,051		5,469,360
Weighted average shares - diluted*		5,970,638			5,749,853			5,914,754		5,787,407

* assumes conversion of Series A Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock

		06/30/21			12/31/20
		(unaudited)			(audited)
Select performance ratios:
Return on average assets		1.15	%		0.87	%
Return on average equity		13.46	%		9.41	%

Asset quality data:
90 days or more and accruing	$	-		$	40
Non accrual loans		939			5,655
Other real estate owned		120			381
Total non performing assets		1,059			6,076

Troubled debt restructurings	$	51		$	54

Non performing assets / total assets		0.14	%		0.89	%
Allowance for loan losses / total loans		1.01	%		0.96	%

Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc. is the holding company to its wholly owned subsidiary, Aquesta Bank. Aquesta Bank is a full-service community bank headquartered in Cornelius, North Carolina with eight branches in the Charlotte, Lake Norman and Wilmington, North Carolina areas and loan production offices in Raleigh, North Carolina, as well as Greenville and Charleston, South Carolina.

For additional information, please contact Kristin Couch (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer) at 704-439-4343 or visit us online at www.aquesta.com.

Information in this press release may contain forward looking statements that might involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include without limitation, the effects of future economic conditions, governmental fiscal and monetary policies, legislative and regulatory changes, and changes in interest rates.

Aquesta Financial Holdings, Inc. Announces Results of Operations for the Second Quarter of 2021 and Declares Annual Cash Dividend of 14 Cents Per Share