NEWTON, NC / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2021 / Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEBK), the parent company of Peoples Bank, reported third quarter earnings results with highlights as follows:

Third quarter highlights:

Net earnings were $3.4 million or $0.61 basic net earnings per share and $0.59 diluted net earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $4.5 million or $0.80 basic net earnings per share and $0.78 diluted net earnings per share for the same period one year ago.
The Bank recognized $489,000 in PPP loan fee income during the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $361,000 in PPP loan fee income for the same period one year ago.

Year to date highlights:

Net earnings were $12.1 million or $2.16 basic net earnings per share and $2.10 diluted net earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $9.4 million or $1.67 basic net earnings per share and $1.62 diluted net earnings per share for the same period one year ago.
The Bank originated 419 Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, totaling $29.1 million, during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The Bank recognized $3.0 million in PPP loan fee income during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $361,000 in PPP loan fee income for the same period one year ago.
Core deposits were $1.4 billion or 98.13% of total deposits at September 30, 2021, compared to $1.2 billion or 97.92% of total deposits at September 30, 2020.

Net earnings were $3.4 million or $0.61 basic net earnings per share and $0.59 diluted net earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $4.5 million or $0.80 basic net earnings per share and $0.78 diluted net earnings per share for the same period one year ago. Lance A. Sellers, President and Chief Executive Officer, attributed the decrease in third quarter net earnings to a decrease in net interest income, a decrease in non-interest income and an increase in non-interest expense, which were partially offset by a decrease in the provision for loan losses during the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2020, as discussed below.

Net interest income was $10.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $10.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in net interest income is due to a $447,000 decrease in interest income, which was partially offset by a $81,000 decrease in interest expense. The decrease in interest income is primarily due to a $700,000 decrease in interest income and fees on loans, which was partially offset by an increase in interest income on investment securities. The decrease in interest income and fees on loans is primarily due to a decrease in total loans. The increase in interest income on investment securities is primarily due to additional securities purchases due to an increase in excess cash. The decrease in interest expense is primarily due to a decrease in Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") borrowings and a reduction in rates paid on time deposits, partially offset by an increase in interest bearing demand, Money Market and savings deposits. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses was $10.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $10.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was a recovery of $182,000, compared to a provision of $522,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a decrease in reserves on loans with payment modifications made as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a decrease in reserves in the general reserve pool. At September 30, 2021, there were no loans with existing modifications as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At December 31, 2020, the balance of loans with existing modifications as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was $18.3 million. The Company continues to track all loans that are currently modified or have been modified as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan balances associated with COVID-19 pandemic related modifications have been grouped into their own pool within the Company's Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses ("ALLL") model as they have a higher likelihood of risk, and a higher reserve rate has been applied to that pool. All loans modified as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, totaling $100.9 million at September 30, 2021, have returned to their original terms; however, the effects of stimulus in the current environment are still unknown, and additional losses may be present in loans that were once modified. At December 31, 2020, the balance for all loans that were then currently modified or previously modified but returned to their original terms was $119.6 million. The $18.7 million decrease from December 31, 2020 to September 30, 2021 in the balance of currently or previously modified loans that had returned to their original terms is primarily due to loans paid off during the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Non-interest income was $6.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $7.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in non-interest income is primarily attributable to a $1.7 million decrease in gains on sale of securities.

Non-interest expense was $12.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $11.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily attributable to a $317,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits expense primarily due to increases in incentive compensation and restricted stock expense and a $203,000 increase in other non-interest expenses.

Year-to-date net earnings as of September 30, 2021 were $12.1 million or $2.16 basic net earnings per share and $2.10 diluted net earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $9.4 million or $1.67 basic net earnings per share and $1.62 diluted net earnings per share for the same period one year ago. The increase in year-to-date net earnings is primarily attributable to an increase in net interest income, a decrease in the provision for loan losses and an increase in non-interest income, which were partially offset by an increase in non-interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2020, as discussed below.

Year-to-date net interest income as of September 30, 2021 was $33.3 million, compared to $32.9 million for the same period one year ago. The increase in net interest income is due to a $104,000 increase in interest income and a $377,000 decrease in interest expense. The increase in interest income was primarily due to a $107,000 increase in interest income and fees on loans, which was primarily due to an increase in fee income on SBA PPP loans, which was partially offset by a decrease in interest income on loans primarily due to a decrease in total loans. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to a decrease in rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities and a decrease in FHLB borrowings. Net interest income after the provision for loan losses was $34.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $29.4 million for the same period one year ago. The provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was a recovery of $863,000, compared to a provision of $3.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in the provision for loan losses is primarily attributable to a decrease in reserves on loans with payment modifications made as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a decrease in reserves due to a net decrease in the volume of loans in the general reserve pool.

Non-interest income was $18.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $17.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in non-interest income is primarily attributable to a $474,000 increase in mortgage banking income due to an increase in mortgage loan volume, a $820,000 increase in appraisal management fee income due to an increase in the volume of appraisals and a $1.5 million increase in miscellaneous non-interest income primarily due to an increase in debit card income resulting from increased debit card activity and an increase in income on Small Business Investment Company ("SBIC") investments. These increases in non-interest income were partially offset by a $2.1 million decrease in gains on sale of securities.

Non-interest expense was $37.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $34.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in non-interest expense was primarily attributable to a $907,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits expense primarily due to increases in insurance costs and incentive compensation and a $801,000 increase in appraisal management fee expense due to an increase in the volume of appraisals.

Income tax expense was $824,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020. The effective tax rate was 19.55% for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to 19.80% for the three months ended September 30, 2020. Income tax expense was $3.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $2.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The effective tax rate was 20.17% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to 18.31% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Total assets were $1.6 billion as of September 30, 2021, compared to $1.4 billion at December 31, 2020. Available for sale securities were $402.9 million as of September 30, 2021, compared to $245.2 million as of December 31, 2020. Total loans were $891.0 million as of September 30, 2021, compared to $948.6 million as of December 31, 2020. The decrease in loans is primarily due to a $50.2 million decrease in PPP loans due to PPP loans being forgiven by the SBA during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and a $37.2 million decrease in commercial loans due to loan payoffs during the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The Company had $25.6 million and $75.8 million in PPP loans at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Non-performing assets were $2.7 million or 0.17% of total assets at September 30, 2021, compared to $3.9 million or 0.27% of total assets at December 31, 2020. Non-performing assets include $2.6 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans and $59,000 in other loans at September 30, 2021, compared to $3.5 million in commercial and residential mortgage loans, $226,000 in other loans, and $128,000 in other real estate owned at December 31, 2020.

The allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2021 was $9.0 million or 1.01% of total loans, compared to $9.9 million or 1.04% of total loans at December 31, 2020. Management believes the current level of the allowance for loan losses is adequate; however, there is no assurance that additional adjustments to the allowance will not be required because of changes in economic conditions, regulatory requirements or other factors.

Deposits were $1.4 billion at September 30, 2021, compared to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2020. Core deposits, which include noninterest-bearing demand deposits, NOW, MMDA, savings and non-brokered certificates of deposit of denominations less than $250,000, were $1.4 billion at September 30, 2021, compared to $1.2 billion at December 31, 2020. Certificates of deposit in amounts of $250,000 or more totaled $26.4 million at September 30, 2021, compared to $25.8 million at December 31, 2020.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were $32.3 million at September 30, 2021, compared to $26.2 million at December 31, 2020. Junior subordinated debentures were $15.5 million at September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Shareholders' equity was $143.5 million, or 8.88% of total assets, at September 30, 2021, compared to $139.9 million, or 9.88% of total assets, at December 31, 2020. The Company repurchased 127,597 shares of its common stock during the nine months ended September 30, 2021 under the Company's stock repurchase program, which was funded in February 2021.

Peoples Bank currently operates 17 banking offices entirely in North Carolina, with offices in Catawba, Alexander, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Iredell and Wake Counties. The Bank also operates loan production offices in Lincoln, Mecklenburg and Rowan Counties. The Company's common stock is publicly traded and is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol "PEBK."

Statements made in this press release, other than those concerning historical information, should be considered forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management and on the information available to management at the time that this release was prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of words like "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," and "believe," variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the markets served by Peoples Bank, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectibility of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations and (7) other risks and factors identified in the Company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to those described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

CONTACT:

Lance A. Sellers
President and Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey N. Hooper
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
828-464-5620, Fax 828-465-6780

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
September 30, 2021, December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)

	September 30, 2021			December 31, 2020			September 30, 2020
	(Unaudited)			(Audited)			(Unaudited)
ASSETS:
Cash and due from banks	$	42,098		$	42,737		$	48,355
Interest-bearing deposits		221,210			118,843			15,778
Federal funds sold		-			-			140,095
Cash and cash equivalents		263,308			161,580			204,228

Investment securities available for sale		402,905			245,249			222,991
Other investments		3,725			4,155			7,163
Total securities		406,630			249,404			230,154

Mortgage loans held for sale		9,086			9,139			8,960

Loans		891,005			948,639			973,871
Less: Allowance for loan losses		(8,963	)		(9,908	)		(9,892	)
Net loans		882,042			938,731			963,979

Premises and equipment, net		16,625			18,600			19,057
Cash surrender value of life insurance		17,265			16,968			16,742
Accrued interest receivable and other assets		21,295			21,753			20,320
Total assets	$	1,616,251		$	1,416,175		$	1,463,440

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing demand	$	529,118		$	456,980		$	455,199
Interest-bearing demand, MMDA & savings		777,721			657,834			626,674
Time, $250,000 or more		26,357			25,771			24,717
Other time		76,769			80,501			79,806
Total deposits		1,409,965			1,221,086			1,186,396

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase		32,332			26,201			34,151
FHLB borrowings		-			-			70,000
Junior subordinated debentures		15,464			15,464			15,464
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		14,948			13,525			17,978
Total liabilities		1,472,709			1,276,276			1,323,989

Shareholders' equity:
Preferred stock, no par value; authorized
5,000,000 shares; no shares issued and outstanding		-			-			-
Common stock, no par value; authorized
20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 5,661,569 shares at 9/30/21, 5,787,504 shares at 12/31/20 and 9/30/20		53,305			56,871			56,871
Common stock held by deferred compensation trust,
at cost; 160,608 shares at 9/30/21, 155,469 shares at 12/31/20 and 153,006 shares at 9/30/20		(1,946	)		(1,796	)		(1,747	)
Deferred compensation		1,946			1,796			1,747
Retained earnings		86,927			77,628			76,580
Accumulated other comprehensive income		3,310			5,400			6,000
Total shareholders' equity		143,542			139,899			139,451

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,616,251		$	1,416,175		$	1,463,440

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three months ended					Nine months ended
	September 30,					September 30,
	2021			2020		2021			2020
	(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)		(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)
INTEREST INCOME:
Interest and fees on loans	$	9,807		$	10,507	$	31,474		$	31,367
Interest on due from banks		89			19		172			103
Interest on federal funds sold		-			33		-			178
Interest on investment securities:
U.S. Government sponsored enterprises		679			528		1,899			1,864
State and political subdivisions		825			717		2,222			2,042
Other		21			64		93			202
Total interest income		11,421			11,868		35,860			35,756
INTEREST EXPENSE:
Interest-bearing demand, MMDA & savings deposits		577			482		1,617			1,455
Time deposits		181			224		584			725
FHLB borrowings		-			103		-			269
Junior subordinated debentures		69			76		211			296
Other		34			57		106			150
Total interest expense		861			942		2,518			2,895
NET INTEREST INCOME		10,560			10,926		33,342			32,861
PROVISION FOR (RECOVERY OF) LOAN LOSSES		(182	)		522		(863	)		3,460
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES		10,742			10,404		34,205			29,401
NON-INTEREST INCOME:
Service charges		1,023			809		2,859			2,635
Other service charges and fees		187			188		570			543
Gain on sale of securities		-			1,688		-			2,145
Mortgage banking income		516			750		2,109			1,635
Insurance and brokerage commissions		266			200		764			647
Appraisal management fee income		1,954			1,871		5,775			4,955
Miscellaneous		2,094			1,626		5,876			4,406
Total non-interest income		6,040			7,132		17,953			16,966
NON-INTEREST EXPENSES:
Salaries and employee benefits		6,054			5,737		17,903			16,996
Occupancy		1,999			1,943		5,891			5,725
Appraisal management fee expense		1,556			1,478		4,646			3,845
Other		2,959			2,756		8,528			8,249
Total non-interest expense		12,568			11,914		36,968			34,815
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES		4,214			5,622		15,190			11,552
INCOME TAXES		824			1,113		3,064			2,115
NET EARNINGS	$	3,390		$	4,509	$	12,126		$	9,437
PER SHARE AMOUNTS
Basic net earnings	$	0.61		$	0.80	$	2.16		$	1.67
Diluted net earnings	$	0.59		$	0.78	$	2.10		$	1.62
Cash dividends	$	0.17		$	0.15	$	0.49		$	0.60
Book value	$	26.09		$	24.83	$	26.09		$	24.83

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and the year ended December 31, 2020
(Dollars in thousands)

	Three months ended						Nine months ended						Year ended
	September 30,						September 30,						December 31,
	2021			2020			2021			2020			2020
	(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Audited)
SELECTED AVERAGE BALANCES:
Available for sale securities	$	378,808		$	200,101		$	329,957		$	194,710		$	200,821
Loans		889,455			970,529			917,473			926,663			935,970
Earning assets		1,534,672			1,343,323			1,462,616			1,235,660			1,271,764
Assets		1,619,442			1,438,238			1,547,405			1,332,249			1,365,642
Deposits		1,420,294			1,170,626			1,353,636			1,083,088			1,115,019
Shareholders' equity		144,650			140,007			146,912			140,191			141,287

SELECTED KEY DATA:
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)		2.76	%		3.28	%		3.08	%		3.60	%		3.52	%
Return on average assets		0.83	%		1.25	%		1.05	%		0.95	%		0.83	%
Return on average shareholders' equity		9.30	%		12.81	%		11.04	%		8.99	%		8.04	%
Average shareholders' equity to total average assets		8.93	%		9.73	%		9.49	%		9.73	%		9.89	%

ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES:
Balance, beginning of period	$	9,287		$	9,433		$	9,908		$	6,680		$	6,680
Provision for (Recovery of) loan losses		(182	)		522			(863	)		3,460			4,259
Charge-offs		(306	)		(152	)		(542	)		(529	)		(1,414	)
Recoveries		164			89			460			281			383
Balance, end of period	$	8,963		$	9,892		$	8,963		$	9,892		$	9,908

	September 30, 2021			September 30, 2020			December 31, 2020
	(Unaudited)			(Unaudited)			(Audited)
ASSET QUALITY:
Non-accrual loans	$	2,704		$	3,475		$	3,758
90 days past due and still accruing		-			84			-
Other real estate owned		-			128			128
Total non-performing assets	$	2,704		$	3,687		$	3,886
Non-performing assets to total assets	0.17		%		0.25	%		0.27	%
Loans modifications related to COVID-19	$	-		$	119,706		$	18,246
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing assets		331.47	%%		268.29	%		254.97	%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans	1.01		%		1.02	%		1.04	%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans, excluding PPP loans		1.01	%		1.13	%		1.14	%

LOAN RISK GRADE ANALYSIS:
Percentage of loans by risk grade

Risk Grade 1 (excellent quality)	0.94	%	1.12	%	1.18	%
Risk Grade 2 (high quality)	19.07	%	20.96	%	20.45	%
Risk Grade 3 (good quality)	69.24	%	65.36	%	65.70	%
Risk Grade 4 (management attention)	8.15	%	9.93	%	9.75	%
Risk Grade 5 (watch)	1.88	%	1.91	%	2.20	%
Risk Grade 6 (substandard)	0.72	%	0.72	%	0.72	%
Risk Grade 7 (doubtful)	0.00	%	0.00	%	0.00	%
Risk Grade 8 (loss)	0.00	%	0.00	%	0.00	%

At September 30, 2021, including non-accrual loans, there were three relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Watch risk grade, which totaled $8.1 million. There were no relationships exceeding $1.0 million in the Substandard risk grade.

SOURCE: Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.

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Peoples Bancorp Announces Third Quarter Earnings Results