TFS Financial Sees Positives Continue in Third Fiscal Quarter

TFS Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:TFSL) (the "Company"), the holding company for Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland (the "Association"), today announced results for the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024.

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Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski (Photo: Business Wire)

The Company reported net income of $20.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to $20.7 million of net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The change in net income included decreases in net interest income and release of provision for credit losses partially offset by a decrease in non-interest expense.

"Despite higher interest rates and economic uncertainty, our earnings are more than 10% higher this year than last year," said Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski. "Retail deposit growth of 6% in the last three months is a result of our strong CD product offerings. Our $2.2 billion in loan originations have an average yield of 7.31%, and our ongoing expense management resulted in a 5% reduction from 2023. All of our capital ratios continue to exceed the amounts required to be well capitalized, including a Tier I capital ratio of nearly 11%, further showing that we are strong, stable, and safe."

Net interest income decreased $2.1 million, or 3%, to $69.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 from $71.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Net interest income was lower as the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased. Certificates of deposit and borrowings that were obtained in a lower interest rate environment matured during the quarter and were replaced by instruments with higher costs. The weighted average yield of interest-earning assets, primarily loans, increased during the quarter. The interest rate spread was 1.36% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to 1.43% for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. The net interest margin was 1.67% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to 1.71% for the prior quarter.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, there was a $0.5 million release of provision for credit losses compared to a $1.0 million release of provision for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. Continued recoveries of loan amounts previously charged off and low levels of current loan charge-offs resulted in the release of provision. Net recoveries were $1.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to $1.3 million for the previous quarter. The total allowance for credit losses increased $0.9 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 to $95.7 million, or 0.63% of total loans receivable from $94.8 million, or 0.63% of total loans receivable, at March 31, 2024. The increase was mainly due to an increase in off- balance sheet commitments related to commitments to originate and undrawn portions of home equity lines of credit. The total allowance for credit losses included a liability for unfunded commitments of $28.2 million and $26.7 million at June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2024, respectively.

Total non-interest expense decreased $1.4 million, or 3%, to $50.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 from $52.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. There was a decrease of $0.7 million in both salaries and employee benefits and federal ("FDIC") insurance premium. Contributing to the decrease in salaries and employee benefits was a decrease in expense recognized for the Company's equity incentive plan, as certain grants fully vested during the previous quarter, and an increase in salary deferrals related to loan origination activities during the quarter. The decrease in FDIC premium was primarily due to an amendment to the FDIC's risk-based assessment that incorporated recent changes in accounting for and measurement of troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs").

Total assets increased by $17.8 million, or less than 1%, to $17.03 billion at June 30, 2024 from $17.02 billion at March 31, 2024. The increase was mainly due to increases in loans held for sale and loans held for investment partially offset by decreases in cash and cash equivalents and Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") stock.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $33.9 million, or less than 1%, to $560.4 million at June 30, 2024 from $594.3 million at March 31, 2024 due to normal fluctuations and liquidity management.

FHLB stock decreased $8.3 million to $232.1 million at June 30, 2024 from $240.4 million at March 31, 2024. The decrease is a result of stock redemptions by the FHLB related to a decrease in the balance of FHLB advances. The FHLB has collateral requirements on funds borrowed that dictate the minimum amount of stock owned at any given time.

Loans held for sale increased $20.7 million, or 213%, to $30.4 million at June 30, 2024 from $9.7 million at March 31, 2024 due to an increase in both loans committed to forward sales and loans identified for future sale.

Loans held for investment, net of allowance and deferred loan expenses, increased $40.3 million, or less than 1%, to $15.19 billion at June 30, 2024 from $15.15 billion at March 31, 2024. During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the home equity loans and lines of credit portfolio increased $269.2 million and residential core mortgage loans decreased $225.3 million. Repayments and sales of residential mortgage loans held for investment outpaced originations during the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The volume of mortgage loan originations remains low due to a relatively high interest rate environment, resulting in minimal refinance activity.

Deposits increased by $90.3 million to $10.03 billion at June 30, 2024, compared to $9.94 billion at March 31, 2024, consisting of a $226.4 million increase in certificates of deposit ("CDs") and decreases of $79.8 million in savings accounts, $31.5 million in money market deposit accounts, and $25.6 million in checking accounts.

Borrowed funds decreased $126.1 million to $4.83 billion at June 30, 2024 from $4.96 billion at March 31, 2024, as maturing borrowings were paid off with cash and partially replaced with retail deposits.

Fiscal Year-To-Date 2024

The Company reported net income of $61.4 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2024, an increase of $5.7 million compared to net income of $55.7 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2023. The change was primarily due to a decrease in non-interest expense and an increase in the release of provision for credit losses, partially offset by a decrease in net interest income.

Net interest income decreased $3.5 million, or 1.64%, to $209.7 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $213.2 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities, mainly certificates of deposit. The weighted average cost of certificates of deposit increased 141 basis points between the two periods as balances migrated from savings and checking accounts to higher yielding certificates of deposits and accounts established in a lower interest rate environment repriced to higher yields at maturity. The weighted average yield of interest-earning assets, primarily loans, increased between the periods. The interest rate spread was 1.39% for the nine months ended June 30, 2024, a 21 basis point decrease from 1.60% for the nine months ended June 30, 2023. The net interest margin was 1.69% for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 compared to 1.82% for the prior year period.

During the nine months ended June 30, 2024, there was a $2.5 million release of provision for credit losses compared to a release of $2.0 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2023. Continued recoveries of loan amounts previously charged off and low levels of current loan charge-offs resulted in the release of provision. Net loan recoveries totaled $3.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and $4.6 million for the same period in the prior year.

The total allowance for credit losses at June 30, 2024 was $95.7 million, or 0.63% of total loans receivable, compared to $104.8 million, or 0.69% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2023. The decrease was almost entirely due to the adoption of recently issued accounting guidance related to the accounting for troubled debt restructurings, which resulted in a $10.2 million reduction to the allowance and a $7.9 million adjustment to retained earnings, net of tax. The allowance for credit losses included $28.2 million and $27.5 million in liabilities for unfunded commitments at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively. Total loan delinquencies increased to $28.6 million, or 0.19% of total loans receivable, at June 30, 2024 from $28.3 million, or 0.19% of totals loans receivable, at March 31, 2024 and $23.4 million, or 0.15% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2023. Non-accrual loans increased to $35.4 million, or 0.23% of total loans receivable, at June 30, 2024 from $35.3 million, or 0.23% of total loans receivable, at March 31, 2024 and $31.9 million, or 0.21% of total loans receivable, at September 30, 2023.

Total non-interest expense decreased $8.3 million, or 5%, to $153.3 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2024, from $161.6 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2023 and included decreases of $7.0 million in marketing costs and $2.6 million in salaries and employee benefits, partially offset by an increase of $1.2 million in federal ("FDIC") insurance premiums. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits was primarily related to decreases in staffing and accruals for discretionary incentive payments. FDIC premiums increased due to growth in deposits and a two basis point increase in FDIC assessment rates that went into effect on January 1, 2023, partially offset by a decrease during the third fiscal quarter of 2024 related to recent changes in accounting for TDRs.

Total assets increased by $117.0 million, or 1%, to $17.03 billion at June 30, 2024 from $16.92 billion at September 30, 2023. The increase was mainly the result of increases in cash and cash equivalents, loans held for sale and loans held for investment, partially offset by a decrease in other assets.

Cash and cash equivalents increased $93.7 million, or 20%, to $560.4 million at June 30, 2024 from $466.7 million at September 30, 2023 due to normal fluctuations and liquidity management.

Loans held for sale increased $27.1 million, or 821%, to $30.4 million at June 30, 2024 from $3.3 million at June 30, 2023 due to an increase in both loans committed to forward sales and loans identified for future sale.

Loans held for investment, net of allowance and deferred loan expenses, increased $24.2 million, or less than 1%, to $15.19 billion at June 30, 2024 from $15.17 billion at September 30, 2023. Home equity loans and lines of credit increased $558.3 million to $3.59 billion and the residential mortgage loan portfolio decreased $532.6 million to $11.55 billion. Loans originated and purchased during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 included $598.7 million of residential mortgage loans and $1.62 billion of equity loans and lines of credit compared to $1.31 billion of residential mortgage loans and $1.24 billion of equity loans and lines of credit originated or purchased during the nine months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in mortgage loan originations was primarily due to a relatively high interest rate environment, resulting in minimal refinance activity. New mortgage loans included 93% purchases and 22% adjustable rate loans during the nine months ended June 30, 2024. There were $190.7 million of residential mortgage loans, primarily long-term fixed-rate loans, sold during the nine months ended June 30, 2024, including those in contracts pending settlement at the end of the period, with a net gain on sale of $1.6 million. During the nine months ended June 30, 2023, $58.1 million of residential mortgage loans were sold with a net gain on sale of $0.6 million.

Other assets decreased $34.2 million, or 29.16%, to $83.1 million at June 30, 2024 from $117.3 million at September 30, 2023. The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in the swap margin receivable related to changes in market values of swap instruments and the impact of those changes on daily settlement transactions.

Deposits increased $576.2 million, or 6%, to $10.03 billion at June 30, 2024 from $9.45 billion at September 30, 2023. The increase was the result of a $1.09 billion increase in certificates of deposit, partially offset by a $274.0 million decrease in savings accounts, a $138.1 million decrease in money market deposit accounts and a $118.0 million decrease in checking accounts. There was $1.21 billion in brokered deposits at June 30, 2024 compared to $1.16 billion at September 30, 2023. At June 30, 2024, brokered deposits included $725.0 million of three-month certificates of deposit accounts, aligned with interest rate swap contracts, with a remaining weighted average effective maturity of approximately 2.8 years.

Borrowed funds decreased $444.3 million, or 8%, to $4.83 billion at June 30, 2024 from $5.27 billion at September 30, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to borrowings paid off at maturity. The total balance of borrowed funds at June 30, 2024, all from the FHLB, included $1.81 billion of term advances with a weighted average maturity of approximately 2.0 years, and $3.00 billion of term advances, aligned with interest rate swap contracts, with a remaining weighted average effective maturity of approximately 3.2 years. Additional borrowing capacity at the FHLB was $2.68 billion at June 30, 2024.

Borrowers' advances for insurance and taxes decreased $57.7 million, or 46%, to $66.8 million at June 30, 2024 from $124.4 million at September 30, 2023. This decrease was primarily related to the timing of real estate tax payments that are collected from borrowers and remitted to various taxing agencies when due.

Accrued expenses and other liabilities increased $68.0 million, or 60%, to $180.9 million at June 30, 2024 from $112.9 million at September 30, 2023. This increase was mainly due to in-transit real estate tax payments that had not yet cleared at the reporting date, slightly offset by a decrease in deferred tax liability.

Total shareholders' equity decreased $12.3 million, or 1%, to $1.92 billion at June 30, 2024 from $1.93 billion at September 30, 2023. Activity reflects $61.4 million of net income, a $7.9 million adjustment to retained earnings related to a change in accounting principle described above with respect to changes in the allowance for credit losses, a $42.6 million net decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income, dividends paid of $44.2 million and net positive adjustments of $5.2 million related to our stock compensation and employee stock ownership plans. The change in accumulated other comprehensive income was primarily due to a net decrease in unrealized gains and losses on swap contracts. There were no stock repurchases during the nine months ended June 30, 2024. The Company's eighth stock repurchase program allows for a total of 10,000,000 shares to be repurchased, with 5,191,951 shares authorized for repurchase at June 30, 2024.

The Company declared and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.2825 per share during each of the first, second and third quarters of fiscal year 2024. As a result of a mutual member vote, Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC (the "MHC"), the mutual holding company that owns approximately 81% of the outstanding stock of the Company, was able to waive its receipt of its share of the dividend paid. Under Federal Reserve regulations, the MHC is required to obtain the approval of its members every 12 months for the MHC to waive its right to receive dividends. As a result of a July 9, 2024 member vote, the MHC has the approval to waive receipt of up to $1.13 per share of possible dividends to be declared on the Company's common stock during the twelve months subsequent to the members' approval (i.e., through July 9, 2025). The MHC has filed a notice with, and a request for non-objection from, the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland for the proposed dividend waiver. Both the non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank and the timing of the non-objection are unknown at this point. The MHC has conducted the member vote to approve the dividend waiver each of the past eleven years under Federal Reserve regulations and for each of those eleven years, approximately 97% of the votes cast were in favor of the waiver.

The Company operates under the capital requirements for the standardized approach of the Basel III capital framework for U.S. banking organizations ("Basel III Rules"). At June 30, 2024 all of the Company's capital ratios exceed the amounts required for the Company to be considered "well capitalized" for regulatory capital purposes. The Company's Tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.82%, its Common Equity Tier 1 and Tier 1 ratios were each 18.82% and its total capital ratio was 19.55%.

Presentation slides as of June 30, 2024 will be available on the Company's website, www.thirdfederal.com, under the Investor Relations link within the "Recent Presentations" menu, beginning July 31, 2024. The Company will not be hosting a conference call to discuss its operating results.

Third Federal Savings and Loan Association is a leading provider of savings and mortgage products, and operates under the values of love, trust, respect, a commitment to excellence and fun. Founded in Cleveland in 1938 as a mutual association by Ben and Gerome Stefanski, Third Federal's mission is to help people achieve the dream of home ownership and financial security. It became part of a public company in 2007 and celebrated its 85^th anniversary in May 2023. Third Federal, which lends in 26 states and the District of Columbia, is dedicated to serving consumers with competitive rates and outstanding service. Third Federal, an equal housing lender, has 21 full service branches in Northeast Ohio, two lending offices in Central and Southern Ohio, and 16 full service branches throughout Florida. As of June 30, 2024, the Company's assets totaled $17.03 billion.

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