Kentucky First Federal Bancorp Announces Quarterly Cash Dividend and Expected Future Dividend Reduction

HAZARD, Ky. and FRANKFORT, Ky. and DANVILLE, Ky. and LANCASTER, Ky., Oct. 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kentucky First Federal Bancorp (NASDAQ:KFFB) (the "Company"), the holding company for First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Hazard, Kentucky and First Federal Savings Bank of Kentucky, Frankfort, Kentucky (collectively the "Banks"), announced today that the Company will pay a cash dividend in the amount of ten cents per share to shareholders of record on October 31, 2023 and payable on November 20, 2023.

However, the Company further reported that future dividends will be reduced primarily due to the recent decline in the earnings of the Banks. Emphasizing that the Banks are both well-capitalized under all applicable regulatory requirements and that asset quality remains good, Don Jennings, President and Chief Executive Office of the Company stated, "We have experienced historic increases in short-term market interest rates as well as a persistent inversion of the yield curve that has resulted in compressed net interest margins and much lower earnings at the bank level. As designed, our loans are repricing in response to the higher rate environment, but due to contractual terms of those loans, increases are restricted as to time and amount, resulting in a slower pace of increase than that of liabilities. We are implementing strategies to emphasize core deposit relationships instead of higher-cost funding sources. Also, we plan to, over time, shift more of the loan portfolio towards higher-earning loans to include those secured by non-owner occupied residential and commercial real estate; doing so at prudent levels while continuing our community banking model and adhering to our conservative lending standards and practices."

"Currently," Mr. Jennings continued. "lower earnings limit the Banks' ability to stream sufficient funds to the Company in order to fund operations and dividends while still maintaining adequate liquidity at the banks to fund operations and loan growth. While the Board continues to believe in a strong Company dividend policy, all of these factors, coupled with regulators' enhanced scrutiny of liquidity and bank dividend payout ratios relative to earnings, will necessitate a change in dividend policy for future periods. Our board will carefully consider whether a dividend may be paid to shareholders in future periods and, if so, at what level. The Board currently expects that if quarterly dividends will continue in 2024, they will be limited to no more than five cents per share. Dividends are also dependent on ongoing relevant regulatory approval."

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain statements that are forward-looking, as that term is defined by the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 or the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases. The Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbors created thereby. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations regarding important risk factors including, but not limited to: general economic conditions; prices for real estate in the Company's market areas; the interest rate environment and the impact of the interest rate environment on our business, financial condition and results of operations; our ability to successfully execute our strategy to increase earnings, increase core deposits, reduce reliance on higher cost funding sources and shift more of our loan portfolio towards higher-earning loans; our ability to pay future dividends and if so at what level; our ability to receive any required regulatory approval or non-objection for the payment of dividends from the Banks to the Company or from the Company to shareholders; competitive conditions in the financial services industry; changes in the level of inflation; changes in the demand for loans, deposits and other financial services that we provide; the possibility that future credit losses may be higher than currently expected; competitive pressures among financial services companies; the ability to attract, develop and retain qualified employees; our ability to maintain the security of our data processing and information technology systems; the outcome of pending or threatened litigation, or of matters before regulatory agencies; changes in law, governmental policies and regulations, rapidly changing technology affecting financial services, and the Risk Factors described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2023. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, and the making of such statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company or any other person that results expressed therein will be achieved.

About Kentucky First Federal Bancorp

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp is the parent company of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Hazard, which operates one banking office in Hazard, Kentucky and First Federal Savings Bank of Kentucky, which operates three banking offices in Frankfort, Kentucky, two banking offices in Danville, Kentucky and one banking office in Lancaster, Kentucky. Kentucky First Federal Bancorp shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol KFFB. At September 30, 2023, the Company had approximately 8,097,695 shares outstanding of which approximately 58.4% was held by First Federal MHC.

Contact:

Kentucky First Federal Bancorp

Don Jennings, President

Clay Hulette, Vice President

(502) 223-1638