EASTON, Md., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Shore Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ - SHBI) (the "Company") reported net income of $9.658 million or $0.49 per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2022, compared to net income of $7.499 million or $0.38 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2022, and net income of $4.616 million or $0.39 per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2021. Net income for the first nine months of 2022 was $22.769 million or $1.15 per diluted common share, compared to net income for the first nine months of 2021 of $12.645 million or $1.08 per diluted common share. Net income, excluding merger related expenses, for the third quarter of 2022 was $9.774 million or $0.49 per diluted common share, compared to net income, excluding merger related expenses, of $7.674 million or $0.39 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2022 and net income, excluding merger related expenses, of $5.013 million or $0.43 per diluted common share for the third quarter 2021. Net income, excluding merger related expenses, for the first nine months of 2022 was $23.617 million or $1.19 per diluted common share compared to net income for the first nine months of 2021 of $13.322 million or $1.13 per diluted common share.

When comparing net income, excluding merger related expenses, for the third quarter of 2022 to the second quarter of 2022, net income increased $2.1 million due to an increase in net interest income of $2.7 million and a decrease in noninterest expense of $1.1 million partially offset by a decrease in noninterest income of $489 thousand. When comparing net income, excluding merger related expenses, for the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2021, net income increased $4.8 million primarily due to increases in net interest income of $11.7 million and noninterest income of $2.4 million offset by increases in noninterest expense of $7.3 million primarily as a result of the acquisition of Severn Bank ("Severn") in November of 2021.

"We are excited to announce our third quarter financial results." said Lloyd L. "Scott" Beatty, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. "We continue to see strong loan demand and opportunities for growth within our various markets. During the third quarter we experienced significant loan growth of 6.0%. We are beginning to see a more normalized expense base since the merger in the fourth quarter of 2021. Our outlook for the remainder of 2022 is a very positive one, as we continue to maintain our commitment and focus on core earnings and enhanced returns for our shareholders.

Balance Sheet Review

Total assets were $3.447 billion at September 30, 2022, a $13.3 million, or less than 1.0%, decrease when compared to $3.460 billion at the end of 2021. During this time period, the Company also shifted its asset mix by redeploying cash and cash equivalents into higher yielding assets which consisted of loans and investment securities. As of September 30, 2022, the Company had 9 Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP') loans totaling $291 thousand that were outstanding.

Total deposits decreased $10.9 million, or less than 1%, when compared to December 31, 2021. The decrease in total deposits was due to decreases in money market and savings accounts of $72.4 million, noninterest-bearing deposits of $33.7 million and time deposits of $30.6 million, partially offset by an increase in interest bearing checking accounts of $125.8 million.

Total stockholders' equity increased $6.5 million, or 1.9%, when compared to December 31, 2021, primarily due to current year earnings, partially offset by an increase in unrealized losses on available for sale securities of $9.8 million. At September 30, 2022, the ratio of total equity to total assets was 10.36% and the ratio of total tangible equity to total tangible assets was 8.52% compared to 10.14% and 8.25% at the end of 2021.

Review of Quarterly Financial Results

Net interest income was $27.3 million for the third quarter of 2022, compared to $24.6 million for the second quarter of 2022 and $15.6 million for the third quarter of 2021. The increase in net interest income when compared to the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to increases in interest and fees on loans of $2.5 million, interest on investment securities of $794 thousand and interest with other banks of $640 thousand, partially offset by an increase in expense on interest-bearing deposits of $1.1 million. The improvement in interest and fees on loans was due to an increase in the average balance of loans of $110.1 million, or 5.0%, coupled with an increase in yields of 18bps. The increase in interest on deposits with other banks was primarily due to the recent increases to the fed funds rate in July and August. The increase in interest on taxable investment securities was driven by an increase in the rates of 31bps and an increase in the average balance within these securities of $72.1 million, or 13.2%.

The increase in net interest income when compared to the third quarter of 2021 was primarily due to increases in interest and fees on loans of $10.4 million, interest on taxable investment securities of $1.9 million and interest on deposits with other banks of $1.4 million, partially offset by expense increases in interest-bearing deposits of $1.6 million and long-term borrowings of $341 thousand, all of which were significantly impacted by the acquisition of Severn in the fourth quarter of 2021.

The Company's net interest margin increased to 3.38% for the third quarter of 2022 from 3.10% for the second quarter of 2022 and 2.99% for the third quarter of 2021. The increase in net interest margin when compared to the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to a shift from interest-bearing deposits with other banks to higher yielding loans and investment securities, partially offset by higher rates paid on interest-bearing deposits. The increase in net interest margin compared to the third quarter of 2021 was due to significantly higher volume as well as improved yields on all earning assets.

The provision for credit losses was $675 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The comparable amounts were $200 thousand and $290 thousand for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, respectively. The increase in the provision for credit losses during the third quarter of 2022 as compared to the prior quarters was primarily a result of significant loan growth in the third quarter of 2022. Net recoveries for the third quarter of 2022 were $119 thousand, compared to net recoveries of $573 thousand for the second quarter of 2022 and net recoveries of $147 thousand for the third quarter of 2021. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to period-end loans, excluding PPP loans and acquired loans, was 0.84% at September 30, 2022, compared to 0.89% at June 30, 2022 and 1.10% at September 30, 2021. The decline in the percentage of the allowance from the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to lower pandemic related qualitative reserves. The decline in the percentage of the allowance from the third quarter of 2021 was primarily the result of lower historical loss experience as well as lower pandemic related qualitative reserves.

At September 30, 2022 and June 30, 2022, nonperforming assets were $4.4 million and $4.0 million respectively. The balance of nonperforming assets increased primarily due to an increase in nonaccrual loans of $266 thousand, or 9.9%, and loans 90 days past due still accruing of $87 thousand, or 7.7%. Accruing troubled debt restructuring ("TDRs") decreased $436 thousand, or 8.9%, at September 30, 2022 compared to June 30, 2022. When comparing the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2021, nonperforming assets decreased $35 thousand, or less than 1%, primarily due to decreases in nonaccrual loans of $498 thousand, or 14.4%, partially offset by an increase in loans 90 days past due still accruing of $469 thousand, or 62.7%. Accruing TDRs decreased $1.3 million, or 22.5%, compared to the third quarter of 2021. The ratio of nonperforming assets and accruing TDRs to total assets at both September 30, 2022, and June 30, 2022 was 0.26% and was 0.44% at September 30, 2021. In addition, the ratio of accruing TDRs to total loans at September 30, 2022 was 0.19% compared to 0.22% at June 30, 2022 and 0.38% at September 30, 2021.

Total noninterest income for the third quarter of 2022 decreased $489 thousand, or 8.4%, when compared to the second quarter of 2022 and increased $2.4 million, or 83.7%, when compared to the third quarter of 2021. The decrease compared to the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to decreases in revenue associated with the mortgage division of $416 thousand, or 38.0%, and other bank fee income of $133 thousand, or 7.7%, partially offset by an increase in service charges on deposit accounts of $71 thousand, or 4.9%. The increase in noninterest income when compared to the third quarter of 2021 was largely impacted by the addition of Severn in the fourth quarter of 2021 which contributed in part to increases in service charges on deposit accounts of $704 thousand. The Severn acquisition also added mortgage-banking revenue of $680 thousand and title revenue from Mid-MD Title of $397 thousand in the third quarter of 2022.

Total noninterest expense, excluding merger related expenses, for the third quarter of 2022 decreased $1.1 million or 5.5%, when compared to the second quarter of 2022 and increased $7.3 million, or 61.5%, when compared to the third quarter of 2021. The decrease in noninterest expense when compared to the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to the increased deferrals of direct loan origination costs for salaries and employee benefits associated with the elevated level of loan originations during the quarter, as well as various cost saves related to the merger with Severn. The increase from the third quarter of 2021 was primarily due to increases in salaries and wages, employee related benefits, occupancy expense, data processing, amortization of intangible assets and legal and professional fees, which were all significantly impacted by adding Severn and its operations.

Review of Nine-Month Financial Results

Net interest income for the first nine months of 2022 was $74.4 million, an increase of $30.9 million, or 71.0%, when compared to the first nine months of 2021. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in total interest income of $33.8 million, or 70.7%, specifically interest and fees on loans of $27.2 million, or 61.6%. The improvement of interest and fees on loans was primarily due to the increase in the average balance of $774.0 million, or 53.0%, coupled with accretion income from acquired loans of $2.1 million for the first nine months of 2022. Taxable investment securities and interest on deposits with other banks increased $4.2 million and $2.3 million, respectively, partially offset by an increase in total interest expense of $2.9 million, or 68.3%. The increase in interest expense was primarily the result of an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits of $819.8 million, or 62.8%. Interest on long term borrowings increased by $688 thousand due to long-term advances with FHLB and junior subordinated debt acquired as part of the Severn acquisition. The long-term advances with FHLB will mature in October of 2022.

The provision for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $1.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The increase in provision for credit losses was the result of an increase in loans held for investment in the first nine months of 2022 of $283 million compared to $41 million for the first nine months of 2021. The ratio of the allowance to total loans decreased from 1.04% at September 30, 2021, to 0.68% at September 30, 2022. Excluding PPP loans and acquired loans, the ratio of the allowance for credit losses to period-end loans was 0.84% at September 30, 2022, lower than the 1.10% at September 30, 2021, primarily due to lower historical loss experience and reduced pandemic related qualitative factors.

Total noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased $8.9 million, or 105.8%, when compared to the same period in 2021. The increase in noninterest income primarily consisted of revenue associated with the acquired mortgage division of $3.6 million, service charges on deposit accounts of $2.1 million, revenue from Mid-Maryland Title of $1.1 million and other noninterest income of $1.3 million. The increase in other noninterest income was primarily due to increases in rental fee income of $1.0 million and other loan fee income of $265 thousand.

Total noninterest expense, excluding merger related expenses, for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased $25.8 million, or 79.6%, when compared to the same period in 2021. The increase was primarily the result of higher salaries, employee benefits, occupancy expense, other intangibles, data processing costs, other noninterest expenses, and FDIC insurance premiums due to significant increases in new and existing customers and the acquisition of Severn. In addition, as previously mentioned, during the first nine months of 2022, the Company recorded merger-related expenses of $1.1 million due to the acquisition of Severn.

Shore Bancshares Information

Shore Bancshares is a financial holding company headquartered in Easton, Maryland and is the largest independent bank holding company located on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It is the parent company of Shore United Bank. Shore Bancshares engages in trust and wealth management services through Wye Financial Partners, a division of Shore United Bank. Additional information is available at www.shorebancshares.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. These statements are evidenced by terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," and similar expressions. Although these statements reflect management's good faith beliefs and projections, they are not guarantees of future performance and they may not prove true. These projections involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, below are certain factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in the forward-looking statements: changes in general economic, political, or industry conditions; geopolitical concerns, including the ongoing war in Ukraine; the potential resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic and related variants and mutations and their impact on the global economy and financial market conditions and our business, results of operations, and financial condition; uncertainty in U.S. fiscal and monetary policy, including the interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation/deflation, interest rate, market, and monetary fluctuations; volatility and disruptions in global capital and credit markets; the transition away from USD LIBOR and uncertainty regarding potential alternative reference rates, including SOFR; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success, impact, and timing of our business strategies, including market acceptance of any new products or services; the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws, and regulations, including those concerning taxes, banking, securities, and insurance, and the application thereof by regulatory bodies; cybersecurity threats and the cost of defending against them, including the costs of compliance with potential legislation to combat cybersecurity at a state, national, or global level; and other factors that may affect our future results. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section of the periodic reports filed by Shore Bancshares, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission entitled "Risk Factors".

The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to publicly announce the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.

Shore Bancshares, Inc.
Financial Highlights (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)


	For the Three Months Ended								For the Nine Months Ended
	September 30,								September 30,
	2022			2021			Change		2022			2021			Change
PROFITABILITY FOR THE PERIOD
Net interest income	$	27,315		$	15,589		75.2	%	$	74,359		$	43,491		71.0	%
Provision for credit losses		675			290		132.8			1,475			1,365		8.1
Noninterest income		5,344			2,909		83.7			17,224			8,369		105.8
Noninterest expense		18,899			11,935		58.3			59,323			33,309		78.1
Income before income taxes		13,085			6,273		108.6			30,785			17,186		79.1
Income tax expense		3,427			1,657		106.8			8,016			4,541		76.5
Net income	$	9,658		$	4,616		109.2		$	22,769		$	12,645		80.1


Return on average assets		1.11	%		0.84	%	27	bp		0.88	%		0.81	%	7	bp
Return on average assets excluding amortization of intangibles and merger related expenses - Non-GAAP (2)		1.17			0.94		23			0.96			0.87		9
Return on average equity		10.72			9.12		160			8.59			8.53		6
Return on average tangible equity - Non- GAAP (1), (2)		13.98			11.12		286			11.63			10.15		148
Net interest margin		3.38			2.99		39			3.09			2.97		12
Efficiency ratio - GAAP		57.87			64.52		(665)			64.78			64.23		55
Efficiency ratio - Non-GAAP (1), (2)		55.79			60.93		(514)			61.80			61.66		14

PER SHARE DATA
Basic and diluted net income per common share	$	0.49		$	0.39		25.6	%	$	1.15		$	1.08		6.5	%

Dividends paid per common share	$	0.12		$	0.12		—		$	0.36		$	0.36		—
Book value per common share at period end		17.99			17.15		4.9
Tangible book value per common share at period end - Non-GAAP (1)		14.50			15.55		(6.8)
Market value at period end		17.32			17.73		(2.3)
Market range:
High		20.50			18.00		13.9			21.41			18.10		18.3
Low		17.29			16.35		5.7			17.29			12.99		33.1

AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET DATA
Loans	$	2,327,279		$	1,487,281		56.5	%	$	2,235,092		$	1,461,083		53.0	%
Investment securities		618,378			334,205		85.0			565,535			283,104		99.8
Earning assets		3,210,233			2,071,505		55.0			3,225,417			1,963,727		64.2
Assets		3,444,365			2,184,448		57.7			3,446,941			2,074,635		66.1
Deposits		3,012,658			1,943,225		55.0			3,016,594			1,836,748		64.2
Stockholders' equity		357,383			200,881		77.9			354,549			198,087		79.0

CREDIT QUALITY DATA
Net (recoveries)	$	(119)		$	(147)		19.0	%	$	(858)		$	(272)		(215.4)	%

Nonaccrual loans	$	2,959		$	3,457		(14.4)
Loans 90 days past due and still accruing		1,217			748		62.7
Other real estate owned		197			203		(3.0)
Total nonperforming assets		4,373			4,408		(0.8)
Accruing troubled debt restructurings (TDRs)		4,458			5,750		(22.5)
Total nonperforming assets and accruing TDRs	$	8,831		$	10,158		(13.1)


CAPITAL AND CREDIT QUALITY RATIOS
Period-end equity to assets		10.36	%		8.92	%	144	bp
Period-end tangible equity to tangible assets - Non-GAAP (1)		8.52			8.15		37

Annualized net (recoveries) to average loans		(0.02)			(0.04)		2			(0.05)	%		(0.02)	%	(3)	bp

Allowance for credit losses as a percent of:
Period-end loans (3)		0.68			1.04		(36)
Period-end loans (4)		0.84			1.10		(26)
Nonaccrual loans		550.08			449.09		10,099
Nonperforming assets		372.22			352.20		2,002
Accruing TDRs		365.12			270.00		9,512
Nonperforming assets and accruing TDRs		184.32			152.84		3,148

As a percent of total loans:
Nonaccrual loans		0.12			0.23		(11)
Accruing TDRs		0.19			0.38		(19)
Nonaccrual loans and accruing TDRs		0.31			0.62		(31)

As a percent of total loans+other real estate owned:
Nonperforming assets		0.18			0.29		(11)
Nonperforming assets and accruing TDRs		0.37			0.68		(31)

As a percent of total assets:
Nonaccrual loans		0.09			0.15		(6)
Nonperforming assets		0.13			0.19		(6)
Accruing TDRs		0.13			0.25		(12)
Nonperforming assets and accruing TDRs		0.26			0.44		(18)
____________________
(1) See the reconciliation table that begins on page 14 of 15.
(2) This ratio excludes merger related expenses (Non-GAAP).
(3) As of September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, these ratios include all loans held for investment, including PPP loans of $291 thousand and $41.5 million, respectively.
(4) As of September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, these ratios exclude PPP loans, acquired loans, and the associated purchase discount mark on the acquired loans from both Severn and Northwest.

Shore Bancshares, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share data)

								September 30, 2022		September 30, 2022
		September 30,			December 31,	September 30,		compared to		compared to
	2022			2021		2021		December 31, 2021		September 30, 2021
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	33,814		$	16,919	$	18,440	99.9	%	83.4	%
Interest-bearing deposits with other banks		129,492			566,694		292,412	(77.1)		(55.7)
Cash and cash equivalents		163,306			583,613		310,852	(72.0)		(47.5)

Investment securities available for sale (at fair value)		86,347			116,982		105,125	(26.2)		(17.9)
Investment securities held to maturity (at amortized cost)		570,719			404,594		250,501	41.1		127.8
Equity securities, at fair value		1,222			1,372		1,384	(10.9)		(11.7)
Restricted securities		9,894			4,159		3,189	137.9		210.3

Loans held for sale, at fair value		8,342			37,749		-	(77.9)		-

Loans held for investment		2,401,883			2,119,175		1,494,897	13.3		60.7
Less: allowance for credit losses		(16,277)			(13,944)		(15,525)	16.7		(4.8)
Loans, net		2,385,606			2,105,231		1,479,372	13.3		61.3

Premises and equipment, net		52,252			51,624		27,011	1.2		93.4
Goodwill		63,281			63,421		17,518	(0.2)		261.2
Other intangible assets, net		6,007			7,535		1,365	(20.3)		340.1
Other real estate owned, net		197			532		203	(63.0)		(3.0)
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value		5,321			4,087		—	30.2		—
Right of use assets, net		9,764			11,370		5,512	(14.1)		77.1
Cash surrender value on life insurance		58,768			47,935		41,949	22.6		40.1
Other assets		25,778			19,932		16,793	29.3		53.5
Total assets	$	3,446,804		$	3,460,136	$	2,260,774	(0.4)		52.5

LIABILITIES
Noninterest-bearing deposits	$	893,808		$	927,497	$	554,902	(3.6)		61.1
Interest-bearing deposits		2,121,504			2,098,739		1,463,163	1.1		45.0
Total deposits		3,015,312			3,026,236		2,018,065	(0.4)		49.4

Securities sold under retail repurchase agreements		—			4,143		3,501	(100.0)		(100.0)
Advances from FHLB - long-term		10,013			10,135		—	(1.2)		—
Subordinated debt		42,995			42,762		24,521	0.5		75.3
Total borrowings		53,008			57,040		28,022

Lease liabilities		10,023			11,567		5,686	(13.3)		76.3
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		11,240			14,600		7,394	(23.0)		52.0
Total liabilities		3,089,583			3,109,443		2,059,167	(0.6)		50.0

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, par value $0.01; authorized 35,000,000 shares		199			198		118	0.5		68.6
Additional paid in capital		201,213			200,473		51,641	0.4		289.6
Retained earnings		165,590			149,966		149,620	10.4		10.7
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income		(9,781)	<

Shore Bancshares Reports Third Quarter and Nine-Month Financial Results