Bankwell Financial Group Reports Operating Results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023; Declares First Quarter Dividend

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BWFG) reported GAAP net income of $8.5 million, or $1.09 per share for the fourth quarter of 2023, versus $8.0 million, or $1.04 per share, for the same period in 2022. For the year ended 2023, net income totaled $36.7 million, or $4.67 per share, versus $37.4 million, or $4.79 per share, for the same period in 2022.

The Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.20 per share cash dividend, payable February 23, 2024 to shareholders of record on February 13, 2024.

We recommend reading this earnings release in conjunction with the Fourth Quarter 2023 Investor Presentation, located at http://investor.mybankwell.com/Presentations and included as an exhibit to our January 24, 2024 Current Report on Form 8-K.

Notes Bankwell Financial Group President and CEO, Christopher R. Gruseke:

"Thank you to my colleagues who helped the Company generate quality returns for our shareholders amidst a volatile economic backdrop in 2023. We achieved a total year Return on Average Tangible Common Equity ("ROATCE") of 14.70% while generating a 1.13% Return on Average Assets ("ROAA"). Tangible Book Value grew to $33.39 per share, which represents a 15% Compounded Annual Growth Rate since December 31, 2020.

Looking to 2024, we expect low single digit loan growth as we grow capital and implement innovative deposit solutions. The Net Interest Margin is anticipated to trough in 3Q at approximately 250 to 260 basis points. Noninterest expense is estimated at $53 to $54 million, or approximately 1.65% of Average Assets, an amount consistent with our historical efficiency.

The Balance Sheet is well positioned for any future interest rate cuts taken by the Federal Reserve. We estimate that a hypothetical 50 basis point expansion of the Net Interest Margin would generate approximately $1.50 in incremental Earnings Per Share on an annualized basis."

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights:

• Noninterest expense to average assets was 1.56% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 and 1.55% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
• Average yield on 2023 funded loans was 7.70% compared to 6.24% for 2022.
• Total gross loans were $2.7 billion, growing $43.2 million, or 1.6%, compared to December 31, 2022.
• Return on average assets was 1.03% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 and 1.13% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
• Return on average tangible common equity was 12.95% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 and 14.70% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
• The net interest margin was 2.81% for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 and 2.98% for the year ended December 31, 2023.
• Investment securities totaled $127.6 million and represent 4.0% of total assets.
• Fully diluted tangible book value per share rose to $33.39 compared to $30.51 at December 31, 2022.

Earnings and Performance

Revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 were $23.4 million, versus $27.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023 were $99.3 million, versus $97.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in revenues for the quarter was primarily attributable to an increase in interest expense partially offset by an increase in interest on loans due to higher overall loan yields¹. The increase in revenues for the year ended 2023 was primarily attributable to an increase in interest and fees on loans due to loan growth and higher overall loan yields¹, an increase in gain on sales of loans, and an increase in servicing charges and fees. This increase was partially offset by an increase in interest expense.

Net income for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was $8.5 million, versus $8.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $36.7 million, versus $37.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in net income for the quarter ended 2023 was primarily due to the credit for loan losses, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense, and the aforementioned decrease in revenues. The decrease in net income for the year ended 2023 was due to an increase in noninterest expense partially offset by the aforementioned increase in revenues and a decrease in the provision for loan losses.

Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.09 and $1.09, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $1.04 and $1.04, respectively, for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $4.71 and $4.67, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $4.84 and $4.79, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.

The net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent basis) for the quarters ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was 2.81% and 3.70%, respectively. The net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent basis) for the year ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 was 2.98% and 3.78%, respectively. The decrease in the net interest margin was due to an increase in funding costs partially offset by an increase in yields on earning assets.

Allowance for Credit Losses ("ACL") - Loans

The ACL-Loans was $27.9 million as of December 31, 2023 compared to $29.3 million as of September 30, 2023, for a reduction of $1.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. The ACL-Loans as a percentage of total loans was 1.03% as of December 31, 2023 compared to 1.06% as of September 30, 2023. The reduction for the quarter was primarily due to a decrease in loan balances and a release of specific reserves, partially offset by charge-offs.

The ACL-Loans was $27.9 million as of December 31, 2023 compared to $22.4 million as of December 31, 2022, an increase of $5.5 million year to date, of which $5.1 million being the CECL transition adjustment to retained earnings. The ACL-Loans as a percentage of total loans was 1.03% as of December 31, 2023 compared to 0.84% as of December 31, 2022. The increase in the ACL-Loans provision for credit losses was primarily driven by forward looking CECL macroeconomic factors.

Financial Condition

Assets totaled $3.22 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to assets of $3.25 billion at December 31, 2022. Gross loans totaled $2.7 billion at December 31, 2023, an increase of $43.2 million or 1.6% compared to December 31, 2022. Deposits totaled $2.7 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to deposits of $2.8 billion at December 31, 2022, a decrease of $64.1 million.

Capital

Shareholders' equity totaled $265.8 million as of December 31, 2023, an increase of $27.3 million compared to December 31, 2022, primarily a result of net income of $36.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase was partially offset by the Day 1 CECL adoption impact of $4.9 million, dividends paid of $6.2 million, and a $1.5 million unfavorable impact to accumulated other comprehensive income. The unfavorable impact to accumulated other comprehensive income was driven by fair value marks related to hedge positions involving interest rate swaps of $2.4 million partially offset by fair value marks on the Company's available for sale investment securities portfolio of $0.9 million. The Company's interest rate swaps are used to hedge interest rate risk.

About Bankwell Financial Group

Bankwell is a commercial bank that serves the banking needs of residents and businesses throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut. For more information about this press release, interested parties may contact Christopher R. Gruseke, President and Chief Executive Officer or Courtney E. Sacchetti, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bankwell Financial Group at (203) 652-0166.

For more information, visit www.mybankwell.com.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements about the Company. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding anticipated future events and can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and "intend" or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, general economic conditions or conditions within the securities markets, and legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business in which the Company and its subsidiaries are engaged.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to evaluating the Company's financial performance in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), management may evaluate certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as the efficiency ratio. A computation and reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures used for these purposes is contained in the accompanying Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures tables. We believe that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, our performance trends and financial position. For example, the Company believes that the efficiency ratio is useful in the assessment of financial performance, including noninterest expense control. The Company believes that tangible common equity, tangible assets, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible common shareholders' equity, fully diluted tangible book value per common share, adjusted non interest expense, operating revenue, efficiency ratio, average tangible common equity, annualized return on average tangible common equity, return on average assets, return on average shareholders' equity, and the dividend payout ratio are useful to evaluate the relative strength of the Company's performance and capital position. We utilize these measures for internal planning and forecasting purposes. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

Total nonaccrual loans increased $32.8 million to $49.2 million as of December 31, 2023 when compared to December 31, 2022. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased to 1.53% at December 31, 2023, when compared to 0.51% at December 31, 2022. The ACL-Loans at December 31, 2023 was $27.9 million, representing 1.03% of total loans.

Past due loans increased to $21.3 million, or 0.78% of total loans, as of December 31, 2023, compared to $16.1 million, or 0.60% of total loans, as of December 31, 2022.

Gross loans totaled $2.7 billion at December 31, 2023, a increase of $43.2 million or 1.6% compared to December 31, 2022.

Total deposits were $2.7 billion at December 31, 2023, compared to $2.8 billion at December 31, 2022, a decrease of $64.1 million, or 2.3%. Brokered deposits have decreased $83.0 million, when compared to December 31, 2022.

Noninterest income increased by $0.6 million to $1.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022. Noninterest income increased by $1.8 million to $4.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in noninterest income for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 was mainly driven by an increase in service charges and fees. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2023 was mainly driven by an increase in gains on SBA loan sales and service charges and fees.

Noninterest expense increased by $0.4 million to $12.9 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023 compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2022. Noninterest expense increased by $6.0 million to $50.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily driven by an increase in FDIC insurance expense and salaries and employee benefits expense.

FDIC insurance expense totaled $1.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $0.1 million when compared to the same period in 2022. FDIC insurance expense totaled $4.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $2.5 million when compared to the same period in 2022. The higher FDIC insurance expense is attributed to the overall balance sheet growth and increased use of brokered deposits.

Salaries and employee benefits expense totaled $6.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $0.1 million when compared to the same period in 2022. Salaries and employee benefits expense totaled $24.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $2.4 million when compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was mainly driven by lower loan originations, which reduces the Bank's ability to defer expenses.