Sterling Bancorp Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:SBT) ("Sterling" or the "Company"), the holding company of Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B. (the "Bank"), today reported its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Net loss of $(0.2) million, or $(0.00) per diluted share
• Net interest margin of 2.52%
• Nonperforming loans of $9.3 million, or 0.72% of total loans and 0.39% of total assets
• Provision for credit losses of $41 thousand; ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans of 2.24%
• Non-interest expense of $15.4 million
• Shareholders' equity of $327.3 million
• Company's consolidated and Bank's leverage ratio of 14.10% and 13.58%, respectively
• Total deposits of $2.0 billion
• Total gross loans of $1.3 billion

The Company reported a net loss of $(0.2) million, or $(0.00) per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to net income of $5.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.

"Sterling's first quarter of 2024 financial results are essentially break-even and are consistent with our plan to protect both book value and liquidity during this period of financial uncertainty. We believe Sterling's credit quality, liquidity and capital levels are robust and are the beneficial product of the decisions made since 2020 to aggressively attack significant legacy credit and operating deficiencies. Notwithstanding those prudent actions, market interest rate movements continue to exert pressure on the margin as deposit costs have increased somewhat faster than earning asset yields, further inhibiting meaningful profitability. It is our intention to continue to manage the Company in such a way as to provide the most optimal flexibility as we navigate this uncertain economy.

"The results also reflect an increase in professional fees in the quarter due primarily to the absence of the insurance reimbursements received in the prior quarter and current quarter costs of what we believe are the bulk of the reimbursement of remaining third-party legal expenses. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency appears to have completed its investigations of various Institution Affiliated Parties with the public announcement last week of enforcement actions against Sterling's former CEO and its controlling shareholder. Taken together with similar public actions taken by the agency over the past few months, we believe the picture drawn for all to see is consistent with what we have been reporting throughout my tenure as CEO. These current regulatory orders, civil money penalties and banking industry prohibitions are a stark reminder of the damage caused by certain individuals. The price we have paid was steep and it is only through the hard work of Sterling's board and management that the Company and the Bank are today in the strong position that both enjoy," said Thomas M. O'Brien, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Balance Sheet

Total Assets – Total assets were $2.4 billion both at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Cash and due from banks increased $68.2 million, or 12%, to $646.2 million at March 31, 2024 compared to $578.0 million at December 31, 2023. Debt securities, all of which are available for sale, are of relatively short duration and which we consider part of our liquid assets, of $394.9 million at March 31, 2024 decreased $24.4 million, or 6%, from December 31, 2023.

Total gross loans of $1.3 billion at March 31, 2024 declined $45.7 million, or 3%, from December 31, 2023.

Total Deposits – Total deposits were $2.0 billion both at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Time deposits were $901.0 million, an increase of $27.8 million, or 3%, compared to $873.2 million at December 31, 2023. Money market, savings and NOW deposits were $1.1 billion, a decrease of $23.3 million, or 2%, from December 31, 2023. Noninterest-bearing deposits were $32.7 million at March 31, 2024, a decrease of $2.6 million, or 7%, compared to December 31, 2023. While total deposits increased less than 1%, certain customers migrated balances from their money market accounts into time deposits, primarily into maturity tenors up to thirteen months, which we believe was likely to lock in current rates in anticipation of possible future rate decreases. Total estimated uninsured deposits were approximately 22% of total deposits both at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. We have continued our current strategy to offer competitive interest rates on our deposit products to maintain our existing customer deposit base and help manage our liquidity.

Capital – Total shareholders' equity was $327.3 million at March 31, 2024, a decrease of $0.4 million compared to $327.7 million at December 31, 2023.

At March 31, 2024, the consolidated Company's and Bank's leverage ratios were 14.10% and 13.58%, respectively. Each of the Company and the Bank is required to maintain a Tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9.0% to be considered to have satisfied the minimum regulatory capital requirements as well as the capital ratio requirements to be considered well capitalized for regulatory purposes.

Asset Quality and Provision for (Recovery of) Credit Losses – A provision for credit losses of $41 thousand, consisting of a recovery of credit losses related to loans of $(0.1) million and a provision of credit losses for unfunded commitments of $0.2 million, was recorded for the first quarter of 2024 compared to a recovery of credit losses of $(4.4) million consisting of a recovery of credit losses related to loans of $(4.9) million and a provision of credit losses for unfunded commitments of $0.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The recovery of credit losses related to loans was the result of the decline in the loan portfolio during the present quarter partially offset by changing economic conditions which increased model assumptions used to forecast credit losses, keeping the overall allowance for credit losses relatively flat. The allowance for credit losses at March 31, 2024 was $29.3 million, or 2.24% of total loans, compared to $29.4 million, or 2.18% of total loans, at December 31, 2023.

Net charge offs (recoveries) during the first quarter of 2024 and fourth quarter of 2023 were $0 and $(64) thousand, respectively.

Nonperforming assets, comprised primarily of nonaccrual residential real estate loans, at March 31, 2024 totaled $9.3 million, or 0.39% of total assets, compared to $9.0 million, or 0.37% of total assets at December 31, 2023.

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin – Net interest income for the first quarter of 2024 was $14.9 million compared to $15.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The net interest margin was 2.52% for both the first quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease in net interest income during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior quarter was primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in interest expense on our average balance of interest-bearing deposits since the rate paid during the first quarter of 2024 increased 21 basis points, partially offset by a $0.4 million increase in interest income earned on our average balance of investment securities and other interest-earnings assets. Interest income on loans was flat in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the prior quarter as the impact of the 22 basis point increase in the yield on the average loan portfolio was offset by a $47.8 million, or 3%, decline in the average loan portfolio balance. The increase in the yield was due primarily to residential mortgage rates resetting in the higher interest rate environment.

Non-Interest Income – Non-interest income for the first quarter of 2024 and fourth quarter of 2023 was $199 thousand and $213 thousand, respectively, a decline of $14 thousand.

Non-Interest Expense – Non-interest expense of $15.4 million for the first quarter of 2024 reflected an increase of $2.6 million, or 20%, compared to $12.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. This increase was primarily due to a $3.1 million increase in professional fees. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we received $3.8 million from our insurance carriers for expenses previously incurred relating to the governmental investigations of the Company and Bank related to the previously terminated Advantage Loan Program. While the Department of Justice's investigation of the Bank and Company was resolved in 2023, we continued to incur significant costs in connection with our ongoing cooperation with governmental investigations of certain individuals and the advancement or reimbursement of third parties for the legal costs pursuant to requests for indemnification and advancement of expenses. We were informed in late 2023 that any future costs would not be covered by our insurance carriers. Excluding insurance proceeds received in the fourth quarter of 2023, our professional fees in the first quarter of 2024 declined from the fourth quarter of 2023.

Income Tax Expense (Benefit)– For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax (benefit) of $(0.1) million, or an effective tax rate of 34.3%, compared to an income tax provision of $1.8 million, or an effective tax rate of 26.0%, for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Our effective tax rate varies from the statutory rate for the current quarter primarily due to the impact of non-deductible compensation related expenses.

Mr. O'Brien said, "Lyle Wolberg recently resigned as a director of the Company and the Bank and the board elected our Chief Operating Officer, Christine Meredith, to fill the vacancy on both the Company and Bank boards. While the composition of our board remains heavily weighted with independent members, we believe the addition of Ms. Meredith will provide management continuity and depth as we continue in our efforts to evaluate and implement a new strategic direction."

Conference Call and Webcast

Management will host a conference call on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time to discuss the Company's unaudited financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The conference call number for U.S. participants is (833) 535-2201 and the conference call number for participants outside the United States is (412) 902-6744. Additionally, interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the call in the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.sterlingbank.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available in the same location shortly after the live call has ended.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed through May 1, 2024 by U.S callers dialing (877) 344-7529 and international callers dialing (412) 317-0088, using conference ID number 3985040.

About Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

Sterling Bancorp, Inc. is a unitary thrift holding company. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B., has primary branch operations in the San Francisco and Los Angeles, California metropolitan areas and New York City. Sterling offers a range of loan products as well as retail and business banking services. Sterling also has an operations center and a branch in Southfield, Michigan. For additional information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.sterlingbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains certain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements" regarding the Company's plans, expectations, thoughts, beliefs, estimates, goals and outlook for the future. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance, including any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "may," "might," "should," "could," "believe," "expect," "continue," "will," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," and "would" or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature, though the absence of these words does not mean a statement is not forward-looking. All statements other than statements of historical facts, including but not limited to statements regarding the economy and financial markets, government investigations, credit quality, the regulatory scheme governing our industry, competition in our industry, interest rates, our liquidity, our business and our governance, are forward-looking statements. We have based the forward-looking statements in this Press Release primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and they are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. There can be no assurance that future developments will be those that have been anticipated. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, uncertainties and other factors detailed from time to time in our public filings, including those included in the disclosures under the headings "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 14, 2024, subsequent periodic reports and future periodic reports, could affect future results and events, causing those results and events to differ materially from those views expressed or implied in the Company's forward-looking statements. These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this Press Release and our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission include additional factors that could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release. Should one or more of the foregoing risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those projected in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update, revise, or correct any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240424385759/en/