National Bank Holdings Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results and Increase to Quarterly Dividend

DENVER, Oct. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Bank Holdings Corporation (NYSE: NBHC) reported:

Mr. Laney added, "We continue to remain vigilant in monitoring our loan portfolio, delivering the lowest non-performing loan ratio since early 2023. Our teams adhere to prudent, disciplined approaches that limit concentrations in our loan book and our depositor base, and we regularly perform robust stress testing on our loan portfolio. We enter the fourth quarter from a position of strength and stability and expect to finish the year strong. We believe our Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 12.88%, ample liquidity position, and diversified funding sources provide optionality for future growth.”

Third Quarter 2024 Results

(All comparisons refer to the second quarter of 2024, except as noted)

Net income increased $7.0 million or 26.7% to $33.1 million or $0.86 per diluted share, compared to $26.1 million or $0.68 per diluted share. The quarter's increase was driven by net interest income and fee income growth. Included in the prior quarter was $3.9 million of impairment related to venture capital investments. Fully taxable equivalent pre-provision net revenue increased $7.5 million or 20.6% to $43.7 million. The return on average tangible assets increased 26 basis points to 1.43%, and the return on average tangible common equity increased 240 basis points to 14.84%.

Net Interest Income

Fully taxable equivalent net interest income increased $4.2 million to $89.5 million, driven by a $74.7 million increase in average interest earning assets, a 12 basis point increase in average loan yields and one extra day in the quarter. The fully taxable equivalent net interest margin widened 11 basis points to 3.87%, driven by a 13 basis point increase in earning asset yields which was partially offset by a two basis point increase in the cost of funds.

Loans

Loans totaled $7.7 billion at September 30, 2024, consistent with the prior quarter. We generated quarterly loan fundings totaling $359.3 million, led by commercial loan fundings of $219.1 million. The average interest rate on the third quarter's loan originations was 8.5%.

Asset Quality and Provision for Credit Losses

The Company recorded $2.0 million of provision expense for credit losses, compared to $2.8 million in the prior quarter. The current quarter's provision expense was primarily driven by higher reserve requirements from changes in the CECL model's underlying economic forecast. Annualized net charge-offs decreased four basis points to 0.18% of average total loans and included the resolution of one previously reserved credit during the quarter. Non-performing loans decreased three basis points to 0.31% of total loans at September 30, 2024, and non-performing assets decreased four basis points to 0.32% of total loans and OREO at September 30, 2024. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans totaled 1.23% at September 30, 2024, compared to 1.25% in the prior quarter.

Deposits

Average total deposits increased $21.3 million to $8.4 billion during the third quarter 2024. The loan to deposit ratio totaled 90.8% at September 30, 2024. Average transaction deposits (defined as total deposits less time deposits) totaled $7.4 billion, consistent with the prior quarter. The mix of transaction deposits to total deposits was 88% at September 30, 2024, consistent with June 30, 2024.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income increased $4.4 million to $18.4 million driven by increases in our diversified sources of fee revenue. Service charges increased $0.6 million, swap fee income increased $0.3 million and trust fee income increased $0.1 million. These increases were partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in mortgage banking income. Included in the prior quarter was $3.9 million of impairment related to venture capital investments.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense totaled $64.2 million during the third quarter, compared to $63.1 million in the prior quarter. Salaries and benefits increased $0.4 million driven by one additional payroll day in the quarter. Professional fees increased $0.4 million and data processing increased $0.3 million driven by our continued investments in technology. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in occupancy and equipment of $0.4 million. The fully taxable equivalent efficiency ratio, excluding other intangible assets amortization, improved 387 basis points to 57.7% for the third quarter.

Income tax expense increased $1.2 million to $6.8 million, compared to $5.6 million in the prior quarter, due to the third quarter's higher pre-tax income. The effective tax rate was 17.0%, compared to 17.7% for the second quarter.

Capital

Capital ratios continue to be strong and in excess of federal bank regulatory agency "well capitalized” thresholds. The tier 1 leverage ratio totaled 10.44%, and the common equity tier 1 capital ratio totaled 12.88% at September 30, 2024. Shareholders' equity totaled $1.3 billion at September 30, 2024, increasing $44.4 million. The third quarter's net income drove $22.2 million of growth in retained earnings, and changes in the interest rate environment led to a $17.9 million improvement in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Common book value per share increased $1.09 to $34.01 at September 30, 2024. Tangible common book value per share increased $1.17 to $24.91 as this quarter's earnings and a decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss outpaced the quarterly dividend.

Dividend Announcement

The quarterly cash dividend will increase 3.6% from $0.28 per share to $0.29 per share. The dividend will be payable on December 13, 2024 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 29, 2024. This is the eighth consecutive semiannual increase to the quarterly dividend since early 2021.

Year-Over-Year Review

(All comparisons refer to the first nine months of 2023, except as noted)

Net income totaled $90.6 million, or $2.36 per diluted share, compared to net income of $108.9 million, or $2.85 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2023. The decrease over the same period prior year was largely driven by lower net interest income, due to an increase in cost of funds outpacing the increase in interest income. Partially offsetting this decrease was a 4.7% increase in non-interest income driven by our diversified sources of fee revenue. Fully taxable equivalent pre-provision net revenue totaled $120.5 million, compared to $144.9 million. The return on average tangible assets totaled 1.33%, compared to 1.61%, and the return on average tangible common equity was 14.14%, compared to 18.81%.

Fully taxable equivalent net interest income totaled $260.5 million, compared to $276.9 million. Average earning assets increased $165.0 million, including average loan growth of $296.4 million, which was partially offset by a decrease in average investment securities of $70.2 million. The fully taxable equivalent net interest margin narrowed 32 basis points to 3.80%, as the increase in earning asset yields was more than offset by an increase in the cost of funds. Average interest bearing liabilities increased $555.3 million due to higher deposit balances, and the cost of funds totaled 2.31%, compared to 1.40% in the same period prior year.

Loans outstanding totaled $7.7 billion, increasing $236.1 million or 3.2%. New loan fundings over the trailing twelve months totaled $1.5 billion, led by commercial loan fundings of $1.0 billion.  

The Company recorded $4.8 million of provision expense for credit losses for the first nine months of 2024, compared to provision expense of $3.7 million in the same period prior year. Annualized net charge-offs totaled 0.13% of average total loans during the first nine months of 2024, compared to 0.02% of average total loans during the first nine months of 2023. Non-performing loans decreased 13 basis points to 0.31% of total loans at September 30, 2024, and non-performing assets decreased 17 basis points to 0.32% of total loans and OREO at September 30, 2024. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of loans totaled 1.23% at September 30, 2024, compared to 1.25% at September 30, 2023.

Average total deposits increased $418.6 million or 5.3% to $8.3 billion, and average transaction deposits increased $369.2 million or 5.3%. The mix of transaction deposits to total deposits was 88%, consistent with September 30, 2023.

Non-interest income totaled $50.1 million, an increase of $2.3 million or 4.7%, driven by increases in our diversified sources of fee revenue. Other non-interest income increased $5.2 million, or 63.6%, and included increases in SBA loan income, trust income, Cambr income and swap fee income. Mortgage banking income decreased $2.7 million as the sustained higher-interest rate environment has lowered mortgage volume.

Non-interest expense totaled $190.1 million, an increase of $10.2 million or 5.7%, largely due to ongoing investments in technology. Salaries and benefits increased $7.6 million, occupancy and equipment increased $2.4 million and data processing increased $2.3 million. Other intangible assets amortization increased $0.6 million due to our Cambr acquisition in April of 2023. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $2.5 million in professional fees.

Income tax expense totaled $19.9 million, a decrease of $7.9 million from the same period prior year, driven by lower pre-tax income. The effective tax rate was 18.0% for the first nine months of 2024, compared to 20.3%.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call to review the results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Interested parties may listen to this call by dialing (888) 204-4368 using the participant passcode of 3279876 and asking for the NBHC Q3 2024 Earnings Call. The earnings release and a link to the replay of the call will be available on the Company's website at www.nationalbankholdings.com by visiting the investor relations area.

About National Bank Holdings Corporation

National Bank Holdings Corporation is a bank holding company created to build a leading community bank franchise, delivering high quality client service and committed to stakeholder results. Through its bank subsidiaries, NBH Bank and Bank of Jackson Hole Trust, National Bank Holdings Corporation operates a network of over 90 banking centers, serving individual consumers, small, medium and large businesses, and government and non-profit entities. Its banking centers are located in its core footprint of Colorado, the greater Kansas City region, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, New Mexico and Idaho. Its comprehensive residential mortgage banking group primarily serves the bank's core footprint. Its trust and wealth management business is operated in its core footprint under the Bank of Jackson Hole Trust charter. NBH Bank operates under a single state charter through the following brand names as divisions of NBH Bank: in Colorado, Community Banks of Colorado and Community Banks Mortgage; in Kansas and Missouri, Bank Midwest and Bank Midwest Mortgage; in Texas, Utah, New Mexico and Idaho, Hillcrest Bank and Hillcrest Bank Mortgage; and in Wyoming, Bank of Jackson Hole and Bank of Jackson Hole Mortgage. Additional information about National Bank Holdings Corporation can be found at www.nationalbankholdings.com. 

For more information visit: cobnks.com, bankmw.com, hillcrestbank.com, bankofjacksonhole.com, or nbhbank.com, or connect with any of our brands on LinkedIn.

About Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Certain of the financial measures and ratios we present, including "tangible assets,” "return on average tangible assets,” "tangible common equity,” "return on average tangible common equity,” "tangible common book value per share,” "tangible common book value, excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax,” "tangible common book value per share, excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax,” "tangible common equity to tangible assets,” "non-interest expense excluding other intangible assets amortization,” "efficiency ratio excluding other intangible assets amortization,” "net income excluding the impact of other intangible assets amortization expense, after tax,” "pre-provision net revenue,” and "fully taxable equivalent” metrics, are supplemental measures that are not required by, or are not presented in accordance with, U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We refer to these financial measures and ratios as "non-GAAP financial measures.” We consider the use of select non-GAAP financial measures and ratios to be useful for financial and operational decision making and useful in evaluating period-to-period comparisons. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding certain expenditures or assets that we believe are not indicative of our primary business operating results or by presenting certain metrics on a fully taxable equivalent basis. We believe that management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing our performance and when planning, forecasting, analyzing and comparing past, present and future periods.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and you should not rely on non-GAAP financial measures alone as measures of our performance. The non-GAAP financial measures we present may differ from non-GAAP financial measures used by our peers or other companies. We compensate for these limitations by providing the equivalent GAAP measures whenever we present the non-GAAP financial measures and by including a reconciliation of the impact of the components adjusted for in the non-GAAP financial measure so that both measures and the individual components may be considered when analyzing our performance. A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contain words such as "anticipate,” "believe,” "can,” "would,” "should,” "could,” "may,” "predict,” "seek,” "potential,” "will,” "estimate,” "target,” "plan,” "project,” "continuing,” "ongoing,” "expect,” "intend” or similar expressions that relate to the Company's strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements involve certain important risks, uncertainties and other factors, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the "Risk Factors” referenced in our most recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in our reports and documents filed with the SEC, and the following factors: the impact of potential regulatory changes to capital requirements, treatment of investment securities and FDIC deposit insurance levels and costs; our ability to execute our business strategy, including our digital strategy, as well as changes in our business strategy or development plans; business and economic conditions; effects of any potential government shutdowns; economic, market, operational, liquidity, credit and interest rate risks associated with the Company's business, including increased competition for deposits due to prevailing market interest rates and banking sector volatility; effects of any changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes imposed by regulatory agencies to increase capital standards; effects of inflation, as well as interest rate, securities market and monetary supply fluctuations; changes in the economy or supply-demand imbalances affecting local real estate values; changes in consumer spending, borrowings and savings habits; changes in the fair value of our investment securities due to market conditions outside of our control; financial or reputational impacts associated with the increased prevalence of fraud or other financial crimes; with respect to our mortgage business, the inability to negotiate fees with investors for the purchase of our loans or our obligation to indemnify purchasers or repurchase related loans if the loans fail to meet certain criteria, or higher rate of delinquencies and defaults as a result of the geographic concentration of our servicing portfolio; the Company's ability to identify potential candidates for, obtain regulatory approval for, and consummate, integrate and realize operating efficiencies from, acquisitions, consolidations and other expansion opportunities; our ability to integrate acquisitions or consolidations and to achieve synergies, operating efficiencies and/or other expected benefits within expected timeframes, or at all, or within expected cost projections, and to preserve the goodwill of acquired financial institutions; the Company's ability to realize anticipated benefits from enhancements or updates to its core operating systems from time to time without significant change in client service or risk to the Company's control environment; the Company's dependence on information technology and telecommunications systems of third-party service providers and the risk of systems failures, interruptions or breaches of security, including those that could result in disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary client or other information; the Company's ability to achieve organic loan and deposit growth and the competition for, and composition of, such growth; changes in sources and uses of funds; increased competition in the financial services industry; regulatory and financial impacts associated with the Company growing to over $10 billion in consolidated assets; increases in claims and litigation related to our fiduciary responsibilities in connection with our trust and wealth management business; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB”) and other accounting standard setters; the share price of the Company's stock; the Company's ability to realize deferred tax assets or the need for a valuation allowance, or the effects of changes in tax laws on our deferred tax assets; the effects of tax legislation, including the potential of future increases to prevailing tax rules, or challenges to our positions; continued consolidation in the financial services industry; ability to maintain or increase market share and control expenses; costs and effects of changes in laws and regulations and of other legal and regulatory developments, including, but not limited to, changes in regulation that affect the fees that we charge, the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other government inquiries, and the results of regulatory examinations, reviews or other inquiries, and changes in regulations that apply to us as a Colorado state-chartered bank and a Wyoming state-chartered bank; technological changes, including with respect to the advancement of artificial intelligence; the timely development and acceptance of new products and services, including in the digital technology space our digital solution 2UniFi; changes in our management personnel and the Company's continued ability to attract, hire and maintain qualified personnel; ability to implement and/or improve operational management and other internal risk controls and processes and reporting system and procedures; regulatory limitations on dividends from our bank subsidiaries; changes in estimates of future credit reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting requirements; financial, reputational, or strategic risks associated with our investments in financial technology companies and initiatives; widespread natural and other disasters, pandemics, dislocations, political instability, acts of war or terrorist activities, cyberattacks or international hostilities through impacts on the economy and financial markets generally or on us or our counterparties specifically; a cybersecurity incident, data breach or a failure of a key information technology system; impact of reputational risk; other risks and uncertainties listed from time to time in the Company's reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items. The Company can give no assurance that any goal or plan or expectation set forth in forward-looking statements can be achieved and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not intend, and assumes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances, except as required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Analysts/Institutional Investors:

Emily Gooden, Chief Accounting Officer and Investor Relations Director, (720) 554-6640, ir@nationalbankholdings.com

Nicole Van Denabeele, Chief Financial Officer, (720) 529-3370, ir@nationalbankholdings.com

Media:

Jody Soper, Chief Marketing Officer, (303) 784-5925, Jody.Soper@nbhbank.com 

NATIONAL BANK HOLDINGS CORPORATION

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)