LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hanmi Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:HAFC, or "Hanmi"))), the parent company of Hanmi Bank (the "Bank"), today reported financial results for the 2023 fourth quarter and full year.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $18.6 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to $18.8 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023. The annualized return on average assets for the fourth quarter was 0.99% and the return on average equity was 9.70%.

For the full year of 2023, net income was $80.0 million, or $2.62 per diluted share, compared to $101.4 million, or $3.32 per diluted share, for the full year of 2022. The year-over-year decline in net income reflects a $16.4 million decline in net interest income, a $6.2 million increase in noninterest expense and a $3.5 million increase in credit loss expense. The return on average assets for the full year of 2023 was 1.08% and the return on average equity was 10.70%.

CEO Commentary

"We finished 2023 with positive momentum, delivering strong fourth quarter results and building a solid foundation for 2024," said Bonnie Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our full year results reflect our team's effective execution of our relationship-driven banking strategy, focus on strong credit administration and disciplined expense management. We further optimized our banking network with the opening of two new branch locations in the fourth quarter. Our proven strategies continued to drive growth and diversification in our loan portfolio and expansion of our customer base, all against the backdrop of a challenging interest rate environment and the lingering effects of an uncertain economy."

"Looking ahead, Hanmi is moving forward with a strong balance sheet, excellent asset quality, a diverse and expanding base of loyal customers and an outstanding team that has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to navigate a variety of economic cycles. We will continue to take a selective and disciplined approach to lending in the current environment with a focus on attractively priced loans and high-quality borrowers, many who will also have a deposit relationship with us. Our consistent performance and growing reputation as a preferred relationship-based banker is enabling us to grow the number of communities we serve. We will also continue to invest in our people, technology and infrastructure to drive operational efficiencies, support disciplined growth and enhance shareholder value.

"I want to thank the entire Hanmi team for their outstanding work this year as well as their dedication to serving our customers and the communities in which we operate. Despite some near-term macroeconomic uncertainty, our future is bright and we will continue to focus on what we do best: building strong relationships and expanding our networks. I look forward to our team delivering another successful year for Hanmi."

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights:

Fourth quarter net income was $18.6 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to $18.8 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2023. Fourth quarter results included a $2.9 million recovery of credit loss expense while third quarter results included a $5.2 million charge for credit loss expense and a $4.0 million gain from the sale-leaseback of a branch property. In addition, income tax expense for the fourth quarter included a $0.6 million charge to increase the valuation allowance on state net operating loss carryforwards.
Loans receivable were $6.18 billion at December 31, 2023, up 2.7% from the end of the third quarter and up 3.6% from the 2022 year-end; loan production for the fourth quarter was $389.5 million with a weighted average interest rate of 8.10%.
Deposits were $6.28 billion at the end of the fourth quarter, up 0.3% from the end of the third quarter and up 1.8% from the 2022 year-end; noninterest-bearing deposits were 31.9% of the deposit portfolio at December 31, 2023.
Net interest income was $53.1 million for the fourth quarter, down 3.1% from third quarter, and net interest margin (taxable equivalent) was 2.92%, down 11 basis points; the average yield on loans increased 15 basis points from the third quarter while the cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 30 basis points.
Noninterest income for the fourth quarter was $6.7 million, down from $11.2 million for the third quarter primarily reflecting the absence of the third quarter $4.0 million gain on the sale-leaseback of a branch property.
Noninterest expenses were $35.2 million for the fourth quarter, up 2.8% from the third quarter primarily reflecting a seasonally higher spend on advertising and communications as well as costs associated with relocation (closing and opening) of two branch offices; the efficiency ratio for the fourth quarter was 58.86%.
The fourth quarter included a credit loss expense recovery of $2.9 million; there were net loan recoveries of $5.0 million for the fourth quarter that included a $6.0 million recovery from a 2019 troubled loan relationship; the ratio of the allowance to loans was unchanged from the third quarter at 1.12%.
Criticized loans declined 11.8% sequentially from the third quarter to $96.7 million, or 1.6% of loans at year-end; nonperforming assets declined 1.9% sequentially to $15.6 million, or 0.21% of total assets at December 31, 2023.
At December 31, 2023, Hanmi had a tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio of 9.14%, a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 11.86% and a total capital ratio of 14.95%.

For more information about Hanmi, please see the Q4 2023 Investor Update (and Supplemental Financial Information), which is available on the Bank's website at www.hanmi.com and via a current report on Form 8-K on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. Also, please refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" herein for further details of the presentation of certain non-GAAP financial measures.

Quarterly Highlights

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

	As of or for the Three Months Ended															Amount Change
	December 31,			September 30,			June 30,			March 31,			December 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22

Net income	$	18,633		$	18,796		$	20,620		$	21,991		$	28,479		$	(163	)	$	(9,846	)
Net income per diluted common share	$	0.61		$	0.62		$	0.67		$	0.72		$	0.93		$	(0.01	)	$	(0.32	)

Assets	$	7,570,341		$	7,350,140		$	7,344,924		$	7,434,130		$	7,378,262		$	220,201		$	192,079
Loans receivable	$	6,182,434		$	6,020,785		$	5,965,171		$	5,980,458		$	5,967,133		$	161,649		$	215,301
Deposits	$	6,280,574		$	6,260,072		$	6,315,768		$	6,201,038		$	6,168,072		$	20,502		$	112,502

Return on average assets		0.99	%		1.00	%		1.12	%		1.21	%		1.56	%		-0.01			-0.57
Return on average stockholders' equity		9.70	%		9.88	%		11.14	%		12.19	%		15.90	%		-0.18			-6.20

Net interest margin		2.92	%		3.03	%		3.11	%		3.28	%		3.67	%		-0.11			-0.75
Efficiency ratio ⁽¹⁾		58.86	%		51.82	%		54.11	%		49.54	%		46.99	%		7.04			11.87

Tangible common equity to tangible assets ⁽²⁾		9.14	%		8.89	%		8.96	%		8.77	%		8.50	%		0.25			0.64
Tangible common equity per common share ⁽²⁾	$	22.75		$	21.45		$	21.56		$	21.30		$	20.54			1.30			2.21


⁽¹⁾Noninterest expense divided by net interest income plus noninterest income.
⁽²⁾Refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for further details.

Results of Operations

Net interest income for the fourth quarter decreased $1.8 million to $53.1 million from $54.9 million for the third quarter of 2023, down 3.1%. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in the cost of interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by an increase in interest-earning asset yields. The cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 30 basis points to 3.83% for the fourth quarter of 2023 from 3.53% for the third quarter of 2023. The increase in the cost of interest-bearing deposits was due to higher market interest rates and a shift in the composition of the portfolio to higher-rate deposits. Average interest-bearing deposits were $4.17 billion for the fourth quarter, compared with $4.13 billion for the third quarter. The yield on average loans for the third quarter increased 15 basis points to 5.88% from 5.73% for the third quarter. Average loans were $6.07 billion for the fourth quarter, compared with $5.92 billion for the third quarter of 2023. Fourth quarter loan prepayment fees were $0.1 million, compared with less than $0.1 million for the third quarter. Net interest margin (taxable-equivalent) for the fourth quarter was 2.92% compared with 3.03% for the third quarter.

Net interest income was $221.3 million for the full year 2023 compared with $237.6 million for 2022, a decline of 6.9%. The decrease reflected the rise in the general level of interest rates during 2023, including an increase in the cost of interest-bearing deposits and a shift in the composition of the portfolio to higher-rate deposits, partially offset by an increase in interest-earning asset yields. The cost of interest-bearing deposits for the full year 2023 increased 256 basis points to 3.35% from 0.79% for 2022. Average interest-bearing deposits for the full year 2023 increased to $4.0 billion from $3.3 billion for 2002 where, for the same period, average time deposits increased $1.2 billion. Average interest-earning assets for the full year 2023 increased 5.6% to $7.18 billion from $6.80 billion for 2022. The yield on average interest-earning assets for the full year 2023 increased 112 basis points to 5.15% from 4.03% for 2022. Average loans for the full year 2023 were $5.97 billion, up 6.6% from $5.60 billion for 2022. Full year 2022 loan prepayment fees were $0.8 million compared with $1.3 million for 2022. Net interest margin (taxable-equivalent) for the full year 2023 was 3.08% compared with 3.50% for 2022. The 42 basis point decrease in the net interest margin reflected the increase in the cost of interest-bearing deposits, partially offset by the increase in average loan yields.

	As of or For the Three Months Ended (in thousands)															Percentage Change
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
Net Interest Income		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22

Interest and fees on loans receivable⁽¹⁾	$	89,922		$	85,398		$	83,567		$	80,923		$	77,123			5.3	%		16.6	%
Interest on securities		4,583			4,204			4,126			4,025			3,633			9.0	%		26.1	%
Dividends on FHLB stock		341			317			283			289			289			7.6	%		18.0	%
Interest on deposits in other banks		2,337			4,153			2,794			2,066			1,194			-43.7	%		95.7	%
Total interest and dividend income	$	97,183		$	94,072		$	90,770		$	87,303		$	82,239			3.3	%		18.2	%

Interest on deposits		40,277			36,818			32,115			25,498			14,900			9.4	%		170.3	%
Interest on borrowings		2,112			753			1,633			2,369			1,192			180.5	%		77.2	%
Interest on subordinated debentures		1,654			1,646			1,600			1,583			1,586			0.5	%		4.3	%
Total interest expense		44,043			39,217			35,348			29,450			17,678			12.3	%		149.1	%
Net interest income	$	53,140		$	54,855		$	55,422		$	57,853		$	64,561			-3.1	%		-17.7	%

⁽¹⁾Includes loans held for sale.

	For the Three Months Ended (in thousands)															Percentage Change
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
Average Earning Assets and Interest-bearing Liabilities		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22
Loans receivable ⁽¹⁾	$	6,071,644		$	5,915,423		$	5,941,071		$	5,944,399		$	5,877,298			2.6	%		3.3	%
Securities		961,551			955,473			971,531			980,712			966,299			0.6	%		-0.5	%
FHLB stock		16,385			16,385			16,385			16,385			16,385			0.0	%		0.0	%
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks		181,140			317,498			230,974			192,902			138,476			-42.9	%		30.8	%
Average interest-earning assets	$	7,230,720		$	7,204,779		$	7,159,961		$	7,134,398		$	6,998,458			0.4	%		3.3	%

Demand: interest-bearing	$	86,679		$	94,703		$	99,057		$	109,391		$	119,106			-8.5	%		-27.2	%
Money market and savings		1,669,973			1,601,826			1,463,304			1,453,569			1,781,834			4.3	%		-6.3	%
Time deposits		2,417,803			2,438,112			2,403,685			2,223,615			1,585,798			-0.8	%		52.5	%
Average interest-bearing deposits		4,174,455			4,134,641			3,966,046			3,786,575			3,486,738			1.0	%		19.7	%
Borrowings		205,951			120,381			196,776			268,056			197,554			71.1	%		4.3	%
Subordinated debentures		129,933			129,780			129,631			129,483			129,335			0.1	%		0.5	%
Average interest-bearing liabilities	$	4,510,339		$	4,384,802		$	4,292,453		$	4,184,114		$	3,813,627			2.9	%		18.3	%

Average Noninterest Bearing Deposits
Demand deposits - noninterest bearing	$	2,025,212		$	2,136,156		$	2,213,171		$	2,324,413		$	2,593,948			-5.2	%		-21.9	%

⁽¹⁾Includes loans held for sale.

	For the Three Months Ended															Yield/Rate Change
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
Average Yields and Rates		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22
Loans receivable⁽¹⁾		5.88	%		5.73	%		5.64	%		5.51	%		5.21	%		0.15			0.67
Securities ⁽²⁾		1.93	%		1.79	%		1.73	%		1.67	%		1.47	%		0.14			0.46
FHLB stock		8.25	%		7.67	%		6.92	%		7.16	%		7.00	%		0.58			1.25
Interest-bearing deposits in other banks		5.12	%		5.19	%		4.85	%		4.34	%		3.42	%		-0.07			1.70
Interest-earning assets		5.34	%		5.19	%		5.09	%		4.96	%		4.67	%		0.15			0.67

Interest-bearing deposits		3.83	%		3.53	%		3.25	%		2.73	%		1.70	%		0.30			2.13
Borrowings		4.07	%		2.48	%		3.33	%		3.58	%		2.55	%		1.59			1.52
Subordinated debentures		5.09	%		5.07	%		4.94	%		4.89	%		4.67	%		0.02			0.42
Interest-bearing liabilities		3.88	%		3.55	%		3.30	%		2.85	%		1.84	%		0.33			2.04

Net interest margin (taxable equivalent basis)		2.92	%		3.03	%		3.11	%		3.28	%		3.67	%		-0.11			-0.75

Cost of deposits		2.58	%		2.33	%		2.08	%		1.69	%		0.97	%		0.25			1.61

⁽¹⁾Includes loans held for sale.
⁽²⁾Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the federal tax rate in effect for the periods presented.

Credit loss recovery for the fourth quarter was $2.9 million, which included a $2.9 million recovery for loan losses, offset by a less than $0.1 million provision for off-balance sheet items. There were net loan recoveries of $5.0 million for the fourth quarter that included a $6.0 million recovery from a 2019 troubled loan relationship. For the third quarter, credit loss expense was $5.2 million, which included a $5.2 million provision for loan losses and a recovery for off-balance sheet items of less than $0.1 million.

Credit loss expense was $4.3 million for the full year 2023, compared to a credit loss expense of $0.8 million for 2022. The full year 2023 credit loss expense was comprised of a $4.9 million provision for loan losses and a $0.6 million recovery for off-balance sheet items. The credit loss expense for 2022 was comprised of a $0.3 million provision for loan losses and a $0.5 million provision for off-balance sheet items.

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter declined $4.5 million to $6.7 million from $11.2 million for the third quarter of 2023. The decline primarily reflected the absence of the third quarter $4.0 million gain on the sale-leaseback of a branch property, a $0.2 million decrease in service charges on deposits, and a $0.3 million valuation adjustment to bank-owned life insurance. A $0.3 million increase in the gain on sale of SBA loans partially offset these decreases. The volume of SBA loans sold in the fourth quarter increased to $29.9 million from $21.0 million for the third quarter, while trade premiums decreased to 6.17% for the fourth quarter from 6.84% for the third quarter.

Noninterest income was $34.2 million for the full year 2023, consistent with 2022. Noninterest income for 2023 included a $4.0 million gain on the sale-and-leaseback of a branch property, offset by a $3.8 million decline in gain on sale of SBA loans and a $1.3 million decrease in service charges on deposits. The volume of SBA loans sold for the full year 2023 declined to $100.5 million from $156.1 million and trade premiums also declined to 7.12% from 7.44% for the full year 2022.

	For the Three Months Ended (in thousands)													Percentage Change
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,		Jun 30,			Mar 31,		Dec 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
Noninterest Income		2023			2023		2023			2023		2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22
Service charges on deposit accounts	$	2,391		$	2,605	$	2,571		$	2,579	$	2,742			-8.2	%		-12.8	%
Trade finance and other service charges and fees		1,245			1,155		1,173			1,258		1,115			7.8	%		11.7	%
Servicing income		772			838		825			742		725			-7.9	%		6.5	%
Bank-owned life insurance income (expense)		(29	)		280		271			270		(97	)		-110.4	%		-70.1	%
All other operating income		853			1,178		1,811			1,618		1,039			-27.6	%		-17.9	%
Service charges, fees & other		5,232			6,056		6,651			6,467		5,524			-13.6	%		-5.3	%

Gain on sale of SBA loans		1,448			1,172		1,212			1,869		1,933			23.5	%		-25.1	%
Net gain (loss) on sales of securities		-			-		(1,871	)		-		-			0.0	%		0.0	%
Gain (loss) on sale of bank premises		-			4,000		-			-		-			-100.0	%		0.0	%
Legal settlement		-			-		1,943			-		-			0.0	%		0.0	%
Total noninterest income	$	6,680		$	11,228	$	7,935		$	8,336	$	7,457			-40.5	%		-10.4	%

Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter increased by $1.0 million to $35.2 million from $34.2 million for the third quarter. Professional fees increased by $0.4 million, advertising and promotion expense increased by $0.5 million and other operating expense increased by $0.6 million. A $0.3 million decline in salaries and employee benefits and a $0.2 million decline in occupancy and equipment expense partially offset the increases noted. The efficiency ratio for the fourth quarter was 58.86%, compared to 51.82% for the third quarter, primarily due to the lower revenue.

Noninterest expense was $136.5 million for the full year 2023, compared with $130.3 million for 2022, up 4.8%. The increase reflected a $5.3 million, or 6.9% increase in salaries and benefits, a $0.7 million increase in occupancy and equipment expense, a $0.6 million increase in data processing expenses and a $0.6 million increase in professional fees. A $0.5 million decrease in advertising and promotion expenses partially offset these increases. The efficiency ratio for the full year 2023 was 53.45%, compared with 47.93% for 2022, primarily due to the higher expenses and lower revenue.

	For the Three Months Ended (in thousands)													Percentage Change
	Dec 31,		Sep 30,		Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
		2023		2023		2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22
Noninterest Expense
Salaries and employee benefits	$	20,062	$	20,361	$	20,365		$	20,610		$	20,279			-1.5	%		-1.1	%
Occupancy and equipment		4,604		4,825		4,500			4,412			3,668			-4.6	%		25.5	%
Data processing		3,487		3,490		3,465			3,253			3,431			-0.1	%		1.6	%
Professional fees		1,977		1,568		1,376			1,335			1,783			26.1	%		10.9	%
Supplies and communication		613		552		638			676			683			11.1	%		-10.2	%
Advertising and promotion		990		534		748			833			974			85.4	%		1.6	%
All other operating expenses		3,252		2,852		3,243			1,957			3,041			14.0	%		6.9	%
Subtotal		34,985		34,182		34,335			33,076			33,859			2.3	%		3.3	%

Other real estate owned expense (income)		15		16		4			(201	)		(70	)		-6.3	%		-121.4	%
Repossessed personal property expense (income)		211		47		(59	)		(84	)		55			348.9	%		283.6	%
Total noninterest expense	$	35,211	$	34,245	$	34,280		$	32,791		$	33,844			2.8	%		4.0	%

Hanmi recorded a provision for income taxes of $8.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $7.9 million for the third quarter, and representing an effective tax rate of 32.2% and 29.6%, respectively for each period. 2023 fourth quarter income tax expense included a $0.6 million charge to increase the valuation allowance on state net operating loss carryforwards. The effective tax rate for the full year 2023 was 30.1%, compared to 27.9% for the full year 2022.

Financial Position

Total assets at December 31, 2023 increased 3.0%, or $220.2 million, to $7.57 billion from $7.35 billion at September 30, 2023. The sequential quarter increase reflected a 2.7%, or $159.5 million, growth in loans receivable, net, as well as a $48.5 million increase in securities and a $13.3 million increase in cash and due from banks, primarily supported by a $162.5 million increase in borrowings and a $20.5 million increase in deposits. From December 31, 2022, total assets increased 2.6%, or $192.1 million. This year-over-year increase reflected a 3.7%, or $217.4 million, growth in loans receivable, net, supported by a 14.2%, or $50.1 million decrease in cash and due from banks and a 1.8%, or $112.5 million increase in deposits.

Loans receivable, before allowance for credit losses, were $6.18 billion at December 31, 2023, up from $6.02 billion at September 30, 2023. Loans held for sale, representing the guaranteed portion of SBA 7(a) loans, were $12.0 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, up slightly from $11.8 million at the end of the third quarter.

	As of (in thousands)															Percentage Change
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22
Loan Portfolio
Commercial real estate loans	$	3,889,739		$	3,773,015		$	3,738,325		$	3,784,176		$	3,833,397			3.1	%		1.5	%
Residential/consumer loans		962,661			926,326			886,984			817,917			734,473			3.9	%		31.1	%
Commercial and industrial loans		747,819			728,792			753,456			778,149			804,475			2.6	%		-7.0	%
Equipment finance		582,215			592,652			586,406			600,216			594,788			-1.8	%		-2.1	%
Loans receivable		6,182,434			6,020,785			5,965,171			5,980,458			5,967,133			2.7	%		3.6	%
Loans held for sale		12,013			11,767			7,293			3,652			8,043			2.1	%		49.4	%
Total	$	6,194,447		$	6,032,552		$	5,972,464		$	5,984,110		$	5,975,176			2.7	%		3.7	%


	As of
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,
		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022
Composition of Loan Portfolio
Commercial real estate loans		62.8	%		62.5	%		62.6	%		63.2	%		64.2	%
Residential/consumer loans		15.5	%		15.4	%		14.9	%		13.7	%		12.3	%
Commercial and industrial loans		12.1	%		12.1	%		12.6	%		13.0	%		13.5	%
Equipment finance		9.4	%		9.8	%		9.8	%		10.0	%		9.9	%
Loans receivable		99.8	%		99.8	%		99.9	%		99.9	%		99.9	%
Loans held for sale		0.2	%		0.2	%		0.1	%		0.1	%		0.1	%
Total		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

New loan production was $389.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 at an average rate of 8.10%, while $78.0 million of loans paid-off during the quarter at an average rate of 6.82%.

Commercial real estate loan production for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $178.2 million. Commercial and industrial loan production was $52.1 million, SBA loan production was $48.4 million, equipment finance production was $57.3 million, and residential mortgage loan production was $53.5 million.

New loan production for the full year 2023 was $1.29 billion, a decrease of 39.1%, or $826.6 million, from $2.12 billion for the full year 2022.

	For the Three Months Ended (in thousands)
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,
		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022
New Loan Production
Commercial real estate loans	$	178,157		$	106,151		$	40,989		$	75,528		$	86,500
Commercial and industrial loans		52,079			67,907			36,322			27,055			137,902
SBA loans		48,432			36,109			30,926			34,472			53,209
Equipment finance		57,334			71,075			50,905			69,307			89,193
Residential/consumer loans		53,465			55,026			100,161			97,201			106,955
subtotal		389,467			336,268			259,303			303,563			473,759


Payoffs		(77,961	)		(62,140	)		(120,609	)		(124,923	)		(121,409	)
Amortization		(106,610	)		(116,411	)		(102,248	)		(102,675	)		(91,333	)
Loan sales		(29,861	)		(22,496	)		(20,933	)		(30,002	)		(50,550	)
Net line utilization		(11,609	)		(70,238	)		(28,092	)		(30,401	)		(43,124	)
Charge-offs & OREO		(1,777	)		(9,369	)		(2,708	)		(2,237	)		(1,201	)

Loans receivable-beginning balance		6,020,785			5,965,171			5,980,458			5,967,133			5,800,991
Loans receivable-ending balance	$	6,182,434		$	6,020,785		$	5,965,171		$	5,980,458		$	5,967,133

Deposits were $6.28 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, up $20.5 million, or 0.3%, from $6.26 billion at the end of the preceding quarter. Driving the change was a $158.7 million increase in money market and savings deposits and a $20.2 million increase in time deposits, partially offset by a $157.6 decline in noninterest-bearing demand deposits due primarily to higher rates offered due to the higher interest rate environment and competition for deposits. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits represented 31.9% of total deposits at December 31, 2023 and the loan-to-deposit ratio was 98.4%.

	As of (in thousands)															Percentage Change
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22
Deposit Portfolio
Demand: noninterest-bearing	$	2,003,596		$	2,161,238		$	2,206,078		$	2,334,083		$	2,539,602			-7.3	%		-21.1	%
Demand: interest-bearing		87,452			88,133			97,076			104,245			115,573			-0.8	%		-24.3	%
Money market and savings		1,734,658			1,576,006			1,580,691			1,382,472			1,556,690			10.1	%		11.4	%
Time deposits		2,454,868			2,434,695			2,431,923			2,380,238			1,956,207			0.8	%		25.5	%
Total deposits	$	6,280,574		$	6,260,072		$	6,315,768		$	6,201,038		$	6,168,072			0.3	%		1.8	%


	As of
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,
		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022
Composition of Deposit Portfolio
Demand: noninterest-bearing		31.9	%		34.5	%		34.9	%		37.6	%		41.2	%
Demand: interest-bearing		1.4	%		1.4	%		1.5	%		1.7	%		1.9	%
Money market and savings		27.6	%		25.2	%		25.0	%		22.3	%		25.2	%
Time deposits		39.1	%		38.9	%		38.6	%		38.4	%		31.7	%
Total deposits		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

Stockholders' equity at December 31, 2023 was $701.9 million, up $38.5 million from $663.4 million at September 30, 2023. The increase includes a $27.3 million decrease in unrealized after-tax losses on securities available for sale due to changes in intermediate-term interest rates during the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter net income, net of dividends paid, added $11.0 million to stockholders' equity for the period. In addition, Hanmi repurchased 50,000 shares during the fourth quarter at an average share price of $14.77. At December 31, 2023, 409,972 shares remain under Hanmi's share repurchase program. Tangible common stockholders' equity was $690.8 million, or 9.14% of tangible assets, at December 31, 2023, compared with $652.2 million, or 8.89% of tangible assets at the end of the third quarter. Tangible book value per share increased to $22.75 at December 31, 2023 from $21.45 at the end of the prior quarter.

Hanmi and the Bank exceeded the minimum regulatory capital requirements and the Bank continues to exceed the minimum for the "well capitalized" category. At December 31, 2023, Hanmi's preliminary common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 11.86% and its total risk-based capital ratio was 14.95%, compared with 11.95% and 15.07%, respectively, at the end of the third quarter of 2023.

	As of															Ratio Change
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,			Q4-23		Q4-23
		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23		vs. Q4-22
Regulatory Capital ratios⁽¹⁾
Hanmi Financial
Total risk-based capital		14.95	%		15.07	%		15.11	%		14.80	%		14.49	%		-0.12		0.46
Tier 1 risk-based capital		12.20	%		12.30	%		12.25	%		11.94	%		11.71	%		-0.10		0.49
Common equity tier 1 capital		11.86	%		11.95	%		11.90	%		11.59	%		11.37	%		-0.09		0.49
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio		10.37	%		10.27	%		10.22	%		10.09	%		10.07	%		0.10		0.30
Hanmi Bank
Total risk-based capital		14.27	%		14.42	%		14.45	%		14.15	%		13.86	%		-0.15		0.41
Tier 1 risk-based capital		13.26	%		13.42	%		13.39	%		13.06	%		12.85	%		-0.16		0.41
Common equity tier 1 capital		13.26	%		13.42	%		13.39	%		13.06	%		12.85	%		-0.16		0.41
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio		11.32	%		11.25	%		11.21	%		11.06	%		11.07	%		0.07		0.25

⁽¹⁾Preliminary ratios for December 31, 2023

Asset Quality

Loans 30 to 89 days past due and still accruing were 0.17% of loans at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with 0.16% at the end of the prior quarter.

Criticized loans totaled $96.7 million at the end of the fourth quarter, down from $109.6 million at the end of the third quarter. Special mention loans were $65.3 million at the end of the fourth quarter, down from $76.5 million at September 30, 2023. Reductions in special mention loans included upgrades to pass loans of $12.9 million and paydowns and payoffs of $1.9 million. The quarter-over-quarter change also included increases from downgrades of $3.6 million of pass loans.

Classified loans were $31.4 million at December 31, 2023, down from $33.1 million at the end of the prior quarter. The $1.7 million decrease was primarily driven by charge-offs of $1.5 million and amortization, paydowns and payoffs of $5.3 million, offset by new downgrades to classified of $5.1 million.

Nonperforming loans were $15.5 million at December 31, 2023, down from $15.8 million at the end of the third quarter. As a percentage of the loan portfolio, nonperforming loans improved to 0.25% at quarter-end, down from 0.26% at the end of the third quarter.

Nonperforming assets were $15.6 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2023, down from $15.9 million at the end of the prior quarter. As a percentage of total assets, nonperforming assets also improved to 0.21% at quarter-end, down from 0.22% at the end of the third quarter.

Gross charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $1.8 million, compared with $9.4 million for the preceding quarter. Recoveries of previously charged-off loans for the fourth quarter of 2023 were $6.8 million, which included a $6.0 million recovery from a 2019 troubled loan relationship, compared with $0.5 million of recoveries for the prior quarter. As a result, there were net recoveries of $5.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with net charge-offs of $8.9 million for the prior quarter. For the fourth quarter of 2023, net recoveries represented 0.33% of average loans on an annualized basis, compared with net charge-offs of 0.60% of average loans for the third quarter on an annualized basis. For the full year 2023, net charge-offs were 0.12% of average loans, compared with 0.02% for 2022.

The allowance for credit losses was $69.5 million at December 31, 2023, up from $67.3 million at September 30, 2023. Specific allowances for loans increased $0.5 million while the allowance for quantitative and qualitative considerations increased $1.7 million. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to loans was 1.12% at the end of both the fourth quarter and third quarter of 2023.

	As of or for the Three Months Ended (in thousands)															Amount Change
	Dec 31,			Sep 30,			Jun 30,			Mar 31,			Dec 31,			Q4-23			Q4-23
		2023			2023			2023			2023			2022		vs. Q3-23			vs. Q4-22
Asset Quality Data and Ratios

Delinquent loans:
Loans, 30 to 89 days past due and still accruing	$	10,263		$	9,545		$	13,749		$	15,377		$	7,492		$	718		$	2,771
Delinquent loans to total loans		0.17	%		0.16	%		0.23	%		0.26	%		0.13	%		0.01			0.04

Criticized loans:
Special mention	$	65,314		$	76,473		$	44,632		$	64,340		$	79,013		$	(11,159	)	$	(13,699	)
Classified		31,367			33,134			38,840			47,288			46,192			(1,767	)		(14,825	)
Total criticized loans	$	96,681		$	109,607		$	83,472		$	111,628		$

Hanmi Reports 2023 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results