Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWFG) reported GAAP net income of $1.1 million, or $0.14 per share for the second quarter of 2024, versus $8.0 million, or $1.02 per share, for the same period in 2023. Pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue ("PPNR") was $9.7 million, or $1.25 per share, for the second quarter of 2024, versus $12.8 million, or $1.68 per share for the same period in 2023.

The Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.20 per share cash dividend, payable August 23, 2024 to shareholders of record on August 12, 2024.

We recommend reading this earnings release in conjunction with the Second Quarter 2024 Investor Presentation, located at http://investor.mybankwell.com/Presentations and included as an exhibit to our July 24, 2024 Current Report on Form 8-K.

Notes Bankwell Financial Group President and CEO, Christopher R. Gruseke:

"The Company’s core profitability has begun to expand; PPNR Return on Average Assets grew to 1.22% for the quarter, while the Net interest margin (“NIM”) has expanded to 2.75%. We continue to achieve peer-leading operational efficiency with a Noninterest Expense to Average Assets ratio of 1.55% for the quarter. Going forward, the Company’s liability sensitive balance sheet is well positioned for any potential Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Earnings per share for the second quarter were reduced by approximately $0.66 due to a specific reserve taken on a non-real estate related commercial credit. The Company announced this addition to its Allowance for Credit Losses in its 8-K filed on July 2, 2024. Notwithstanding this idiosyncratic credit event, other areas of the loan portfolio have experienced improving credit trends. A significant portion of criticized and classified loans have demonstrated improved operating results and may be subject to future credit upgrades if these trends continue. Additional details regarding the specific reserve as well as other credit metrics can be found in the accompanying Investor Presentation.

We are also pleased to announce that the Company will host its first earnings call after third quarter financial results are released in October 2024. The date and time of that call will be announced in the coming weeks."

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights:

• PPNR was $9.7 million and PPNR return on average assets was 1.22% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.
• Net income of $1.1 million for the quarter reflects the impact of an $8.2 million provision for credit losses.
  • $6.6 million of the provision for credit losses is related to a specific reserve taken against an $8.7 million commercial business credit¹_.
• The net interest margin was 2.75% and 2.73% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.
• Noninterest expense to average assets was 1.55% and 1.60% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.
• Total gross loans were $2.7 billion, decreasing $61.4 million, or 2.3%, compared to December 31, 2023.
• Average yield on total loans was 6.37% for the six months ended June 30, 2024.
• Deposits were $2.7 billion, decreasing $74.4 million, or 2.7%, compared to December 31, 2023.
• Brokered deposits decreased $144.2 million compared to December 31, 2023.
• FDIC-insured deposits totaled $1.9 billion and represent 72.9% of total deposits as of June 30, 2024.
• Return on average assets was 0.14% and 0.31% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.
• Return on average tangible common equity was 1.67% and 3.65% for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.
• Investment securities totaled $138.0 million and represent 4.4% of total assets.
• The Company repurchased 40,140 shares and 76,320 at the weighted average prices of $24.55 and $24.94 per share for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.

^{1 - 8-K was filed on July 2, 2024.}

Earnings and Performance

Revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 were $21.9 million, versus $25.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were $44.0 million, versus $52.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in revenues for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024 was attributable to an increase in interest expense on deposits and lower gains from loan sales partially offset by an increase in interest and fees on loans, given higher loan yields² and prepayment fees.

Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 was $1.1 million, versus $8.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $4.9 million, versus $18.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in net income for the quarter and six months ended 2024 was primarily due to the aforementioned decrease in revenues and an increase in provision for credit losses.

Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.14 and $0.14, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $1.02 and $1.02, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.62 and $0.62, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $2.36 and $2.34, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

The net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent basis) for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023 was 2.75% and 3.07%, respectively. The net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent basis) for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023 was 2.73% and 3.15%, respectively. The decrease in the net interest margin was due to an increase in funding costs partially offset by an increase in interest income on earning assets.

^{2 - The increase in overall loan yields was 28 bps and 38 bps for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.}

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans ("ACL-Loans")

The ACL-Loans was $36.1 million as of June 30, 2024 compared to $27.9 million as of December 31, 2023. The ACL-Loans as a percentage of total loans was 1.36% as of June 30, 2024 compared to 1.03% as of December 31, 2023. Provision for credit losses was $8.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. The increase in the provision for credit losses for the quarter was primarily due to an additional $7.4 million for two loans. Of the $7.4 million, $6.6 million is related to a specific reserve taken against an $8.7 million commercial business credit. The credit had been previously reported as a non-performing loan as of the fourth quarter of 2023 and had previously carried a $0.4 million specific reserve. The Company's estimated remaining exposure for the commercial business credit is $1.7 million. The additional $0.8 million specific reserve was related to a construction loan.

Financial Condition

Assets totaled $3.1 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $73.8 million, or 2.3% compared to December 31, 2023. Gross loans totaled $2.7 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $61.4 million, or 2.3% compared to December 31, 2023. Deposits totaled $2.7 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $74.4 million, or 2.7% compared to December 31, 2023.

Capital

Shareholders’ equity totaled $267.0 million as of June 30, 2024, an increase of $1.2 million compared to December 31, 2023, primarily a result of net income of $4.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The increase was partially offset by dividends paid of $3.2 million.

About Bankwell Financial Group

Bankwell is a commercial bank that serves the banking needs of residents and businesses throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut. For more information about this press release, interested parties may contact Christopher R. Gruseke, President and Chief Executive Officer or Courtney E. Sacchetti, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bankwell Financial Group at (203) 652-0166.

For more information, visit www.mybankwell.com.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements about the Company. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding anticipated future events and can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “intend” or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, general economic conditions or conditions within the banking industry or securities markets, and legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business in which the Company and its subsidiaries are engaged.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to evaluating the Company's financial performance in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), management may evaluate certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as the efficiency ratio. A computation and reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures used for these purposes is contained in the accompanying Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures tables. We believe that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, our performance trends and financial position. For example, the Company believes that the efficiency ratio is useful in the assessment of financial performance, including noninterest expense control. The Company believes that tangible common equity, tangible assets, tangible common equity to tangible assets, tangible common shareholders' equity, fully diluted tangible book value per common share, adjusted noninterest expense, operating revenue, efficiency ratio, average tangible common equity, annualized return on average tangible common equity, return on average assets, return on average shareholders' equity, pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue, pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue on average assets, and the dividend payout ratio are useful to evaluate the relative strength of the Company's performance and capital position. We utilize these measures for internal planning and forecasting purposes. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

(1) Efficiency ratio is defined as noninterest expense, less other real estate owned expenses and amortization of intangible assets, divided by our operating revenue, which is equal to net interest income plus noninterest income excluding gains and losses on sales of securities and gains and losses on other real estate owned. In our judgment, the adjustments made to operating revenue allow investors and analysts to better assess our operating expenses in relation to our core operating revenue by removing the volatility that is associated with certain one-time items and other discrete items that are unrelated to our core business.

(2) The dividend payout ratio is calculated by dividing dividends per share by earnings per share.

(1) Represents Bank ratios. Current period capital ratios are preliminary subject to finalization of the FDIC Call Report.

Total nonaccrual loans increased $7.0 million to $56.2 million as of June 30, 2024 when compared to December 31, 2023. The increase was primarily due to a $13.9 million commercial real estate non-owner occupied office loan put on nonaccrual during the six months ended June 30, 2024. This loan represents a 16.5% participation in a $84.3 million club transaction. The increase was partially offset by the payoff of two loans totaling $4.4 million and four loans that were partially charged-off for a total of $4.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024.

Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets increased to 1.79% at June 30, 2024 from 1.53% at December 31, 2023. The ACL-Loans at June 30, 2024 was $36.1 million, representing 1.36% of total loans.

Gross loans totaled $2.7 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $61.4 million or 2.3% compared to December 31, 2023.

Total deposits were $2.7 billion at June 30, 2024, a decrease of $74.4 million, or 2.7%, when compared to December 31, 2023. Brokered deposits have decreased $144.2 million, when compared to December 31, 2023.

Noninterest expense decreased by $0.4 million to $12.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in noninterest expense was primarily driven by a decrease in FDIC insurance costs, mainly driven by a reduction in the Bank's brokered deposits.

Noninterest expense increased by $0.2 million to $25.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily driven by an increase in director fees related to timing of compensation and accelerated vestings in connection with the death of a director. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in FDIC insurance costs, mainly attributable by a reduction in the Bank's brokered deposits.