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DEFIANCE, Ohio, Jan. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SB Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBFG) ("SB Financial" or the "Company"), a diversified financial services company providing full-service community banking, mortgage banking, wealth management, private client and title insurance services today reported earnings for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights Over the Fourth Quarter Prior Year Include:

• Net income of $3.9 million increased by 9.9 percent compared to the prior year with diluted Earnings Per Share ("EPS") of $0.57 and increased 44.5 percent compared to the linked quarter.
• Interest income of $15.1 million increased by 16.9 percent from the prior year.
• Loan growth of $38.1 million, or 4.0 percent from the prior year quarter, marks the eighth consecutive quarter of expanding loans.
• Strong asset quality with nonperforming assets decreasing to 25 basis points of total assets, a marked improvement from 33 basis points in the same quarter of the previous year. Delinquency levels for loans 30 days or more past due ended the year at 15 basis points of total loans.

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023 Highlights Over the Prior Year Include:

• Net income decreased slightly to $12.1 million, a 3.4 percent drop from the prior year's $12.5 million, and diluted EPS was $1.75, down 1.13 percent from $1.77. Adjusted EPS were up by $0.12 per share or 7.4 percent.
• Deposits decreased by $16.5 million, or 1.5 percent to $1.07 billion.
• Mortgage origination volume was $215.5 million for the trailing twelve months, with a servicing portfolio of $1.37 billion.
  

"We demonstrated our resilience and operational strength throughout the fourth quarter of 2023," stated Mark A. Klein, Chairman, President, and CEO. "In doing so, we achieved a 9.9 percent increase in net income over the prior year, underpinned by robust growth in our loan portfolio, which eclipsed the $1 billion mark for the first time in our history. This marks our eighth successive quarter of loan expansion, underscoring our commitment to disciplined and consistent growth in our loan portfolio. While we navigate the economic headwinds, these milestones underscore our capability to adapt and broaden our revenue base. Looking to the future, we remain dedicated to reinforcing our solid financial foundation and delivering outstanding value to our clients and shareholders."

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated Revenue

Total operating revenue, which includes both net interest income and noninterest income, showed a notable increase of 10.3 percent compared to the linked quarter and a 3.4 percent increase over the same quarter last year. Specifically, net interest income rose by 0.5 percent from the linked quarter, although it decreased by 12.1 percent from the year-ago quarter. The net interest margin saw a slight increase of 2 basis points from the linked quarter but experienced a decrease of 50 basis points when compared to the prior-year quarter. These changes in net interest income and margin primarily resulted from higher costs associated with deposits and funding.

In terms of noninterest income, we observed significant growth, increasing by 32.9 percent from the linked quarter and by 49.0 percent from the prior year quarter, largely due to our opportunistic decision to sell equity securities , resulting in a $1.5 million gain. Mortgage servicing revenue and gain on sale from residential loans were stable in the quarter compared to the prior year with SBA gains of $177 thousand. Conversely, income from wealth management and customer service fees, along with title insurance revenue, showed a decrease compared to the figures from the previous year's corresponding quarter.

Mortgage Loan Business

Mortgage loan originations for the fourth quarter of 2023 stood at $39.6 million, a decrease of $11.7 million, or 22.8 percent, from the year-ago quarter. This decline reflects the cooling housing market, which aligns with broader economic trends. However, it's noteworthy that the total sales of originated loans reached $33.4 million, marking an increase of $9.8 million, or 41.4 percent from the prior year quarter. This increase underscores an effective sales strategy in the purchase market and indicates our commitment to emphasizing our traditional model of generation and sale.

For the full year of 2023, SB Financial reported mortgage originations totaling $215.5 million. Our originations reflected the changes in the market, with new purchase/construction lending constituting 92 percent of the business, up from 80 percent for all of 2022.

Net mortgage banking revenue for the quarter was $1.3 million, reflecting a steady performance with a marginal increase from the $1.2 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2022. Mortgage servicing operations demonstrated commendable stability, with a valuation adjustment resulting in a positive valuation adjustment of $12 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2023, a significant improvement from the $0.1 million decrease experienced in the same quarter of the prior year. The year 2023 concluded with a favorable adjustment, recapturing $0.1 million in servicing rights, in stark contrast to the previous year's $1.3 million impairment of these rights. The mortgage servicing portfolio experienced growth, closing at $1.37 billion as of December 31, 2023, an increase of $14.7 million, or 1.1 percent from the prior year.

"In a year marked by fluctuating interest rates and heightened market sensitivity, our mortgage loan business has showcased remarkable resilience," said Mr. Klein. "The increase in total sales of originated loans by over 40 percent compared to the same period last year, when originations faced significant headwinds, speaks to the agility, expertise and presence of our team. The steady net mortgage banking revenue and the growth of our servicing portfolio affirm our strategic focus and our dedication to delivering exceptional service and value to our clients."

Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

Noninterest income for the quarter increased from the prior year quarter by 49.0 percent and increased by 32.9 percent from the linked quarter, reflective of the equity sale discussed earlier. Gain-on-sale yields on mortgage loans increased $0.2 million, or 35.8 percent from the prior year. Similarly, gain-on-sale yields of non-mortgage loans also saw a notable increase from both the prior year and the linked quarter, primarily driven by favorable market conditions and our focused efforts to capitalize on emerging lending opportunities.

For the fourth quarter of 2023, SB Financial reported a noninterest expense of $10.4 million, reflecting a slight increase from the prior year but a decrease from the linked quarter. The increase over the prior year was the direct result of a $0.2 million increase in professional fees and an increase of $0.1 million in data processing fees. These increases were partially offset by a $0.1 million decrease in marketing expenses and a marginal decrease of $25 thousand in salaries and employee benefits. As a result, total headcount for the Company is down over 6 percent compared to the prior year.

"Our noninterest income, always one of our strengths, was up over the same period last year and compared to the linked quarter," Mr. Klein noted. "Significant contributions came from our gain-on-sale yields, which saw a substantial increase in both mortgage and non-mortgage loans compared to the same quarter of the previous year. On the expense side, we've maintained a disciplined approach, with noninterest expenses witnessing a modest year-over-year increase due to targeted investments in professional and data processing services. These investments are critical in supporting our growth and enhancing our operational efficiency. Even with these necessary expenditures, we've managed to realize savings in marketing and personnel costs, underscoring our commitment to control costs and improve our efficiency."

Balance Sheet

As of December 31, 2023, SB Financial reported total assets of $1.34 billion, reflecting a growth of 1.2 percent from the linked quarter and an increase of 0.5 percent from the previous year. The growth in assets is primarily attributed to the increase in the loan portfolio, which has reached $1 billion, marking a historic milestone, with a $38.1 million or 4.0 percent increase over the year. The strategic reallocation of liquidity, reflected in a decrease in cash and investments, has been instrumental in this growth, demonstrating the ability to prudently manage resources to maximize shareholder returns while maintaining a solid financial position.

Total shareholders' equity increased to $124.3 million, up $5.9 million from the prior-year quarter. This increase is a direct reflection of our commitment to enhancing shareholder value and management's confidence in the Company's long-term strategy. The active capital management approach, including the repurchase of 53,000 shares in the fourth quarter, as part of the ongoing buyback program, reflects SB Financial's dedication to delivering returns to its shareholders.

"As we cap off 2023, our commitment to disciplined growth and robust asset quality has once again proven effective," said Mr. Klein. "The fourth quarter saw our loan balances grow by $38.1 million, securing a full year of continuous quarterly loan growth. Our dynamic approach to build strong lending relationships has borne fruit, despite commercial pipelines feeling the squeeze in a fairly competitive landscape. Our asset quality remains a cornerstone of our operations, with top decile coverage ratios, reinforcing the bank's financial health. Over the year, we've generated an increase in our loan portfolio, demonstrating our capacity to drive organic growth amidst fluctuating interest rates and a challenging economic environment. This growth represents our deepening relationships with our customers and our ability to meet their evolving needs. Looking forward, we remain committed to leveraging our strong asset base while we maintain our focus on strategic initiatives that enhance shareholder value and position us for continued success in the coming years."

Asset Quality

SB Financial has demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining high standards of asset quality. As of December 31, 2023, SB Financial reported nonperforming assets totaling $3.3 million, a significant decrease of $1.1 million or 25.3 percent from the same quarter last year, driven primarily by a decline in Residential Real Estate. This notable reduction in nonperforming assets is a clear indicator of the effectiveness of our risk management strategies and the overall health of the loan portfolio.

Furthermore, the coverage ratio for problem loans has seen a remarkable improvement, up by 185 basis points from the previous year to 560 percent. This improvement in the coverage ratio is a direct result of proactive measures in asset quality management. It includes the expansion of the allowance for credit losses, which followed a Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) adjustment of $1.4 million. Additionally, this improvement coincides with a concurrent reduction in problem loans, underscoring our focused efforts on maintaining a robust and healthy loan portfolio.

Webcast and Conference Call

The Company will hold the fourth quarter 2023 earnings conference call and webcast on January 26, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. EDT. Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing 1-888-338-9469. The webcast can be accessed at ir.yourstatebank.com. An audio replay of the call will be available on the Company's website.

About SB Financial Group

Headquartered in Defiance, Ohio, SB Financial is a diversified financial services holding company for the State Bank & Trust Company (State Bank) and SBFG Title, LLC dba Peak Title (Peak Title). State Bank provides a full range of financial services for consumers and small businesses, including wealth management, private client services, mortgage banking and commercial and agricultural lending, operating through a total of 23 offices: 22 in nine Ohio counties and one in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and 23 ATMs. State Bank has six loan production offices located throughout the Tri-State region of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Peak Title provides title insurance and title opinions throughout the Tri-State region. SB Financial's common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market with the ticker symbol "SBFG".

In May 2023, SB Financial was valued #163 on the American Banker Magazine's list of top 200 publicly traded Community Bank and Thrifts based on three-year average return on equity.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements within this document, which are not statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties inherent in the national and regional banking industry, changes in economic conditions in the market areas in which SB Financial and its subsidiaries operate, changes in policies by regulatory agencies, changes in accounting standards and policies, changes in tax laws, fluctuations in interest rates, demand for loans in the market areas in SB Financial and its subsidiaries operate, increases in FDIC insurance premiums, changes in the competitive environment, losses of significant customers, geopolitical events, the loss of key personnel and other risks identified in SB Financial's Annual Report on Form 10-K and documents subsequently filed by SB Financial with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and SB Financial undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, except as required by law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to SB Financial or any person acting on its behalf are qualified by these cautionary statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Non-GAAP financial measures, specifically pre-tax, pre-provision income, tangible common equity, tangible assets, tangible book value per common share, tangible common equity to tangible assets, return on average tangible common equity, total interest income – FTE, net interest income – FTE and net interest margin – FTE are used by the Company's management to measure the strength of its capital and analyze profitability, including its ability to generate earnings on tangible capital invested by its shareholders. In addition, the Company excludes the OMSR impairment from net income to report a non-GAAP adjusted net income level. Although management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors by providing a greater understanding of its business, they should not be considered a substitute for financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

Investor Contact Information:

Mark A. Klein
Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
Mark.Klein@YourStateBank.com

Anthony V. Cosentino
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
Tony.Cosentino@YourStateBank.com