Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results

Strong Operating Results Underscored By Increased Net Interest Margin

Financial Highlights

• The net interest margin for the third quarter of 2024 was 3.62%, an increase of 18 basis points compared to 3.44% for the second quarter of 2024.
• Total loans at September 30, 2024 were $5.9 billion, an increase of $58.2 million from June 30, 2024 and $542.6 million from September 30, 2023.
• Total deposits at September 30, 2024 were $6.3 billion, an increase of $100.2 million from June 30, 2024 and $748.3 million from September 30, 2023.
• Diluted earnings per share of $1.08 for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $1.50 for the second quarter of 2024. Third quarter earnings included $12.6 million of pre-tax expenses related to a $10 million regulatory reserve, our Modern Banking in Motion digital transformation initiative, the Global Payments Group ("GPG") wind down, and other regulatory remediation costs, all of which impacted diluted earnings per share by $0.78.
• Asset quality continues to be stable. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.53% at September 30, 2024, unchanged from the prior linked quarter.
• Liquidity remains strong. At September 30, 2024, cash on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and available secured funding capacity totaled $3.1 billion, which represented 212% of uninsured deposits.
• The Company and Bank are "well capitalized" under applicable regulatory guidelines, with total risk-based capital ratios of 13.2% and 12.9%, respectively, at September 30, 2024, well above regulatory minimums.

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (the "Company") (NYSE:MCB), the holding company for Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the "Bank"), reported net income of $12.3 million, or $1.08 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $16.8 million, or $1.50 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2024, and $22.1 million, or $1.97 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2023.

Mark DeFazio, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented,

"The commercial bank continues to report strong underlying business fundamentals and financial performance. Our net interest income increased 6% quarter over quarter and 12% year to date supported by continued strength and growth in our net interest margin. We continue to deliver on deposit growth despite the challenging operating environment. Importantly, our year to date results highlight our ability to manage in a dynamic environment and we expect our financial results to benefit from the recent reduction in the Fed Funds target rate and any additional monetary policy easing in the future.

"We remain laser focused on the exit from the GPG vertical and continue to make investments in the buildout of our risk management framework and personnel. We have reserved $10 million to resolve an investigation with a state agency connected to a fintech client we last worked with in 2020. With matters such as this behind us, as well as a full exit from GPG, we believe that the Bank is well positioned to deliver financial outperformance relative to our peers."

Balance Sheet

Total cash and cash equivalents were $318.5 million at September 30, 2024, an increase of $73.8 million, or 30.2%, from June 30, 2024 and an increase of $141.1 million, or 79.6%, from September 30, 2023. The increase from June 30, 2024, primarily reflects a $100.2 million increase in deposits. The increase from September 30, 2023, primarily reflects a $748.3 million increase in deposits, partially offset by an increase in the loan book of $542.6 million and a $105.1 million decrease in wholesale funding.

Total loans, net of deferred fees and unamortized costs, were $5.9 billion at September 30, 2024, an increase of $58.2 million, or 1.0%, from June 30, 2024, and an increase of $542.6 million, or 10.1%, from September 30, 2023. Loan production was $460.6 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $290.8 million for the prior linked quarter and $333.5 million for the prior year period. The increase in total loans from June 30, 2024 was due primarily to an increase of $116.7 million in commercial real estate ("CRE") loans (including owner-occupied), partially offset by a decrease of $51.0 million of multi-family loans. The increase in total loans from September 30, 2023 was due primarily to an increase of $460.0 million in CRE loans (including owner-occupied) and $92.9 million in commercial and industrial loans.

Total deposits were $6.3 billion at September 30, 2024, an increase of $100.2 million, or 1.6%, from June 30, 2024, and an increase of $748.3 million, or 13.6%, from September 30, 2023. The increase from June 30, 2024 was due primarily to an increase of $133.4 million in property manager deposits and $105.6 million in retail deposits, partially offset by a $122.0 million decrease in GPG deposits. The increase in deposits from September 30, 2023, was due to broad based increases across most of the Bank's various deposit verticals.

At September 30, 2024, cash on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and available secured funding capacity totaled $3.1 billion. The Company and the Bank each met all the requirements to be considered "well capitalized" under applicable regulatory guidelines. Total non-owner-occupied commercial real estate loans were 353.3% of total risk-based capital at September 30, 2024, compared to 358.4% and 374.8% at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively.

Income Statement

Financial Highlights

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 was $65.2 million compared to $61.5 million for the prior linked quarter and $53.6 million for the prior year period. The $3.7 million increase from the prior linked quarter was due primarily to an increase in the average balance of loans and an increase in the yield on loans, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of overnight deposits and a modest increase in the cost of funds. The $11.7 million increase from the prior year period was due primarily to an increase in the average balance of loans, an increase in loan yields, and a decrease in the average balance of borrowed funds, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of deposits and an increase in the cost of funds.

Net Interest Margin

Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2024 was 3.62% compared to 3.44% and 3.27% for the prior linked quarter and prior year period, respectively. The 18 basis point increase from the prior linked quarter was driven largely by an increase in the average balance of loans and an increase in loan yields in combination with elevated prepayment penalties and deferred fee recognition as a result of an increased level of loan payoffs, partially offset by an increase in the cost of funds. The 35 basis point increase from the prior year period was due primarily to an increase in the average balance of loans, an increase in loan yields, and a decrease in the average balance of borrowed funds, partially offset by an increase in the average balance of deposits and an increase in the cost of funds.

The total cost of funds for the third quarter of 2024 was 339 basis points compared to 334 basis points and 303 basis points for the prior linked quarter and prior year period, respectively. The increase from the prior linked quarter reflects the continued effects of high short-term interest rates and the intense competition for deposits, as well as the runoff of lower cost GPG deposits replaced with market rate deposits. The increase from the prior year period reflects the continued effects of high short-term interest rates, the intense competition for deposits, and a shift from non-interest bearing deposits to interest bearing funding primarily related to the exit from the crypto-related deposit vertical during 2023.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income was $6.3 million for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of $146,000 from the prior linked quarter and a decrease of $228,000 from the prior year period. The increase from the prior linked quarter was driven primarily by an increase in wire and letter of credit fees, partially offset by the continuing decline in GPG revenue as that business is wound down. The decrease from the prior year period was driven primarily by lower GPG revenue, partially offset by an increase in service charges on deposit accounts.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense was $51.3 million for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of $9.0 million from the prior linked quarter and an increase of $20.3 million from the prior year period. The $9.0 million increase from the prior linked quarter was due primarily to the pre-tax $10 million regulatory reserve and a $1.4 million increase in compensation and benefits, partially offset by a $2.2 million decline in professional fees. The $20.3 million increase from the prior year period was due primarily to the pre-tax $10 million regulatory reserve, $2.7 million increase in compensation and benefits related to the increase in number of employees, and $1.8 million increase in technology costs related to the digital transformation initiative.

Income Tax Expense

The effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2024 was 30.2% compared to 29.7% for the prior linked quarter and 22.2% for the prior year period. The effective tax rate for the prior year period reflects a discrete tax item related to the exercise of stock options in the third quarter of 2023 and the reversal of the regulatory settlement reserve in that period.

Asset Quality

Credit quality remains stable. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.53% at September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans was 0.58% at September 30, 2023.

The allowance for credit losses was $62.5 million at September 30, 2024, an increase of $2.5 million from June 30, 2024, which reflects loan growth production and a modest increase in the duration of the loan book.

Conference Call

The Company will conduct a conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET on Friday, October 18, 2024, to discuss the results. To access the event by telephone, please dial 800-445-7795 (US), 785-424-1699 (INTL), and provide conference ID: MCBQ324 approximately 15 minutes prior to the start time (to allow time for registration).

The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and accessible at MCB Quarterly Results Conference Call and in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at MCB News. To listen to the live webcast, please visit the site at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to register, download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to join for the live presentation, a replay of the webcast will also be available later that day accessible at MCB Quarterly Results Conference Call.

About Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (NYSE:MCB) is the parent company of Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the "Bank"), a New York City based full-service commercial bank. The Bank provides a broad range of business, commercial and personal banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, private and public middle-market and corporate enterprises and institutions, municipalities, and local government entities.

Metropolitan Commercial Bank was named one of Newsweek's Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions 2024. The Bank was ranked by Independent Community Bankers of America among the top ten successful loan producers for 2024 by loan category and asset size for commercial banks with more than $1 billion in assets. Kroll affirmed a BBB+ (investment grade) deposit rating on January 25, 2024. For the fourth time, MCB has earned a place in the Piper Sandler Bank Sm-All Stars Class of 2024.

The Bank is a New York State chartered commercial bank, a member of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and an equal housing lender. For more information, please visit the Bank's website at MCBankNY.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the Company's future financial condition and capital ratios, results of operations and the Company's outlook and business. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts. Such statements may be identified by the use of such words as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "continue" or similar terminology. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control and may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause our forward-looking statements to be materially inaccurate include, but are not limited to the following: the interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation; an unexpected deterioration in our loan or securities portfolios; changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio, including the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; further deterioration in the financial condition or stock prices of financial institutions generally; unexpected increases in our expenses; different than anticipated growth and our ability to manage our growth; the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operation; unanticipated regulatory action or changes in regulations; potential recessionary conditions; unanticipated volatility in deposits; unexpected increases in credit losses or in the level of delinquent, nonperforming, classified and criticized loans; our ability to absorb the amount of actual losses inherent in our existing loan portfolio; an unanticipated loss of key personnel or existing customers; competition from other institutions resulting in unanticipated changes in our loan or deposit rates; an unexpected adverse financial, regulatory or bankruptcy event experienced by our non-bank financial service partners; unanticipated increases in FDIC costs; changes in regulations, legislation or tax or accounting rules, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government including policies of the U.S. Treasury; impacts related to or resulting from recent bank failures; an unexpected failure to successfully manage our credit risk and the sufficiency of our allowance, the credit and other risks from borrower and depositor concentrations (by geographic area and by industry); the current or anticipated impact of military conflict, terrorism or other geopolitical events; the costs, including possibly incurring fines, penalties or other negative effects (including reputational harm), of any adverse judicial, administrative, or arbitral rulings or proceedings, regulatory enforcement actions, or other legal actions; a failure in or breach of the Company's operational or security systems or infrastructure, including cyberattacks; the failure to maintain current technologies, or to implement new technologies; the failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting; the failure to retain or attract employees; and unanticipated adverse changes in our customers' economic conditions or general economic conditions, as well as those discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. We do not undertake (and expressly disclaim) any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as may be required by law.

Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited)

Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited)

Loan Production, Asset Quality & Regulatory Capital

Performance Measures

Interest Margin Analysis