Sterling Bancorp Reports Third 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 third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Net loss of $(0.1) million, or $(0.00) per diluted share
• Net interest margin of 2.30%
• Nonperforming loans of $13.2 million, 1.08% of total loans and 0.54% of total assets
• Provision for (recovery of) credit losses of $(2.3) million; ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans of 2.04%
• Non-interest expense of $15.6 million
• Shareholders' equity of $334.6 million
• Company's consolidated and Bank's leverage ratio of 14.18% and 13.72%, respectively
• Total deposits of $2.1 billion
• Total gross loans of $1.2 billion

The Company reported a net loss of $(0.1) million, or $(0.00) per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to net income of $1.3 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

As previously disclosed, on September 15, 2024, Sterling, the Bank and EverBank Financial Corp ("EverBank") entered into a definitive stock purchase agreement providing for the purchase by EverBank of all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank from Sterling (the "Transaction") for cash consideration of $261.0 million. Also on September 15, 2024, Sterling's board of directors unanimously approved a plan of dissolution providing for the dissolution of Sterling under Michigan law following the closing of the Transaction. The Transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. The Transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, among which include the approval of the definitive stock purchase agreement, the Transaction and the plan of dissolution by the requisite vote of the Company's shareholders and the receipt of required regulatory approvals.

Balance Sheet

Total Assets – Total assets were $2.4 billion at September 30, 2024, an increase of $63.8 million, or 3%, from June 30, 2024.

Cash and due from banks increased $110.6 million, or 18%, to $710.4 million at September 30, 2024 compared to $599.8 million at June 30, 2024 primarily due to net cash inflows from the growth in deposits and the decline in loans. Debt securities decreased $5.5 million, or 1%, to $436.4 million at September 30, 2024. All debt securities are available for sale, have a relatively short duration and are considered part of our liquid assets.

Total gross loans of $1.2 billion at September 30, 2024 decreased $40.5 million, or 3%, from June 30, 2024. Residential real estate loans were $904.4 million, a decrease of $67.9 million, or 7%, from June 30, 2024. Commercial real estate loans were $306.9 million, an increase of $29.7 million, or 11%, from June 30, 2024.

Total Deposits – Total deposits were $2.1 billion at September 30, 2024, an increase of $53.7 million, or 3%, from June 30, 2024. Money market, savings and NOW deposits were $1.1 billion, a decrease of $12.3 million from June 30, 2024. Time deposits were $972.2 million, an increase of $67.0 million from June 30, 2024. Noninterest-bearing deposits were $31.3 million at September 30, 2024 compared to $32.2 million at June 30, 2024. Total estimated uninsured deposits to total deposits were approximately 22% at September 30, 2024, June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Our current strategy is to continue to offer competitive interest rates on our deposit products to maintain our existing customer deposit base and maintain our liquidity.

Capital – Total shareholders' equity was $334.6 million at September 30, 2024, an increase of $5.7 million compared to $328.9 million at June 30, 2024, primarily due to a $5.3 million reduction in the unrealized loss on our debt securities portfolio included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

At September 30, 2024, the consolidated Company's and Bank's leverage ratios were 14.18% and 13.72%, respectively. Both the Company and the Bank are required to maintain a Tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9.0% 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 (recovery of) credit losses of $(2.3) million was recorded for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $(2.1) million for the second quarter of 2024. In the third quarter of 2024, the recovery of credit losses related to loans of $(2.6) million was primarily due to the reduction in the commercial real estate portfolio's allowance reflecting the continued strong credit quality of the portfolio. In addition, the residential mortgage portfolio's allowance had a reduction primarily due to continued run-off of that portfolio. A provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments was recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024 of $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The allowance for credit losses at September 30, 2024 was $25.0 million, or 2.04% of total loans, compared to $27.6 million, or 2.18% of total loans at June 30, 2024.

Recoveries of loan losses during the third and second quarter of 2024 were $10 thousand and $440 thousand, respectively, with no charge offs in either quarter.

Nonperforming loans, comprised primarily of nonaccrual residential real estate loans, totaled $13.2 million, or 0.54% of total assets at September 30, 2024, compared to $12.2 million, or 0.51% of total assets at June 30, 2024.

Results of Operations

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin – Net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 was $13.6 million compared to $14.4 million for the second quarter of 2024. The net interest margin was 2.30% and 2.44% for the third and second quarter of 2024, respectively. The decrease in net interest income during the third quarter of 2024 compared to the prior quarter was primarily due to a $1.3 million increase in interest expense. This increase in interest expense reflects an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits of $42.0 million, or 2%, as well as a 15 basis point increase in the rate paid on deposits during the third quarter of 2024 over the rate paid during the second quarter of 2024. This increase in interest expense was partially offset by a $0.6 million increase in interest income earned on our average balance of investment securities and other interest-earnings assets. Interest income on loans declined $0.1 million in the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the prior quarter as a decline in the average loan portfolio balance of $28.2 million, or 2%, was offset in part by an 11 basis point increase in the yield on the average loan portfolio. The increase in the yield was due primarily to a 7 basis point increase in residential mortgage rates resetting in the higher interest rate environment and a 46 basis point increase in commercial real estate loan yields due to the growth in the portfolio at yields higher than the second quarter portfolio yield.

Non-Interest Income – Non-interest income for the third quarter of 2024 as comparted to the second quarter of 2024 was essentially unchanged as an unrealized gain on an equity security of $0.2 million was offset by $0.2 million less in funds received from the Federal Home Loan Bank based on the performance of loans previously sold to them.

Non-Interest Expense – Non-interest expense of $15.6 million for the third quarter of 2024 reflected an increase of $0.7 million, or 5%, compared to $14.9 million for the second quarter of 2024. This increase was primarily due to a $0.9 million increase in professional fees which included increased professional fees incurred in connection with the Transaction. Salaries and employee benefits expense increased $0.3 million, or 4%, primarily due to the annual merit increase and adjustments to certain employees' base compensation. Partially offsetting the increases in professional fees and salaries and employee benefits, other expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 32%.

Income Tax Expense – For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $0.9 million. Income tax expense includes an additional $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2024 to reverse a tax position previously taken on the deductibility of interest earned on U.S. government obligations under applicable state tax law. For the three months ended June 30, 2024, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $0.6 million, or an effective tax rate of 33.0%. Our effective tax rate varies from the statutory rate primarily due to the correction in the third quarter of 2024 discussed above as well as the impact of non-deductible compensation-related expenses.

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 also has an operations center and a branch in Southfield, Michigan. Sterling offers a range of loan products as well as retail and business banking services. 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," "predict," "potential," "believe," "expect," "attribute," "continue," "will," "anticipate," "seek," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "projection," "goal," "target," "outlook" 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 expectations for the anticipated sale of the Bank and ensuing Plan of Dissolution, the economy and financial markets, 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.