RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif., Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Star Bancorp (Nasdaq: FSBC) ("Five Star” or the "Company”), a holding company that operates through its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Five Star Bank (the "Bank”), today reported net income of $13.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $10.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and $10.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $45.7 million, as compared to $47.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Financial and Other Highlights

Performance highlights and other developments for the Company for the periods noted below included the following:

James E. Beckwith, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"While we focus on the future and maintaining a position of distinction and respect in the markets we serve, we proudly look back at 2024 as another outstanding year of achievement. We experienced consistent, strong financial performance with year-over-year growth in loans and deposits, a consistent shareholder dividend, and stable net interest margin. We also continued our successful execution of our San Francisco market expansion and now have 27 employees in the San Francisco Bay Area who contributed $229.5 million in deposits from June 5, 2023 to December 31, 2024. We have managed expenses and executed on conservative underwriting practices, which are foundational to our success.

Five Star Bank consistently executes on client and community-focused initiatives, and in 2024, we received a Super Premier rating from Findley Reports, an IDC Superior rating, and a Bauer Financial rating of 5 stars (out of five). We were also awarded the prestigious 2023 Raymond James Community Bankers Cup, were among S&P Global Market Intelligence's 2023 Top 20 Best-Performing Community banks in the nation (with assets between $3 billion and $10 billion), and were ranked fifth on the 2024 Bank Director Magazine (RankingBanking) Best U.S. Banks with assets less than $5 billion. We also received the Greater Sacramento Economic Council's Sustainability Award recognizing a company that has supported industry growth in the Greater Sacramento region.

In 2024, our senior leadership was recognized by the Sacramento Business Journal with a C-Suite Award, a Women Who Mean Business honor, a 40 Under 40 recognition, and placement on the Power 100 list. Our senior leadership was also recognized on the San Francisco Business Times' Newsmaker 100 list, as part of the Independent Community Bankers of America's 40 Under 40: Emerging Community Bank Leaders, among the Association of Latino Professionals for America's 50 Most Powerful Latinas, and with a National Association of Women Business Owners' Sacramento Valley Outstanding Women Leaders' Executive Woman award.

Being recognized as community leaders ensures Five Star Bank remains top of mind in the markets we serve as we continue to build-out our market presence. I am humbled and proud of our team's accomplishments and look forward to the future.”

Financial highlights included the following:

• The San Francisco Bay Area team, which increased from 24 to 27 employees during the three months ended December 31, 2024, generated deposit balances totaling $229.5 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $40.4 million from September 30, 2024.
• Cash and cash equivalents were $352.3 million, representing 9.90% of total deposits at December 31, 2024, as compared to 7.38% at September 30, 2024.
• Total deposits increased by $158.0 million, or 4.65%, during the three months ended December 31, 2024, due to increases in both non-wholesale and wholesale deposits, which the Company defines as brokered deposits and public time deposits. During the three months ended December 31, 2024, non-wholesale deposits increased by $8.0 million, or 0.27%, and wholesale deposits increased by $150.0 million, or 36.59%.
• Consistent, disciplined management of expenses contributed to our efficiency ratio of 41.21% for the three months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to 43.37% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.
• For the three months ended December 31, 2024, net interest margin was 3.36%, as compared to 3.37% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 3.19% for the three months ended December 31, 2023. For the year ended December 31, 2024, net interest margin was 3.32%, as compared to 3.42% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The effective Federal Funds rate fell to 4.33% as of December 31, 2024 from 4.83% as of September 30, 2024 and 5.33% as of December 31, 2023.
• Other comprehensive loss was $2.6 million during the three months ended December 31, 2024. Unrealized losses, net of tax effect, on available-for-sale securities were $12.4 million as of December 31, 2024. Total carrying value of held-to-maturity and available-for-sale securities represented 0.07% and 2.48% of total interest-earning assets, respectively, as of December 31, 2024.
• The Company's common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 11.02% and 10.93% as of December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, respectively. The Bank continues to meet all requirements to be considered "well-capitalized” under applicable regulatory guidelines.
• Loan and deposit growth in the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 was as follows:

• The ratio of nonperforming loans to loans held for investment at period end decreased from 0.06% at December 31, 2023 to 0.05% at December 31, 2024.
• The Company's Board of Directors declared, and the Company subsequently paid, a cash dividend of $0.20 per share during the three months ended December 31, 2024. The Company's Board of Directors subsequently declared another cash dividend of $0.20 per share on January 16, 2025, which the Company expects to pay on February 10, 2025 to shareholders of record as of February 3, 2025.

Three months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to three months ended September 30, 2024

The Company's net income was $13.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $10.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024. Net interest income increased by $3.1 million, primarily due to an increase in interest income driven by a larger average balance of interest-earning assets, partially offset by an increase in interest expense due to a larger average balance of deposits, as compared to September 30, 2024. The provision for credit losses decreased by $1.5 million, reflecting adjustments to expectations for credit losses based on economic trends and forecasts in the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2024. Non-interest income increased by $0.3 million, primarily due to income received on equity investments in venture-backed funds during the three months ended December 31, 2024, combined with a loss from equity investments in venture-backed funds during the three months ended September 30, 2024. Non-interest expense increased by $0.7 million, primarily due to: (i) increased salaries and employee benefits mainly resulting from increased loan production driving higher commissions expense period-over-period; and (ii) increased advertising and promotional expenses due to a larger number of events sponsored and attended period-over-period.

Three months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to three months ended December 31, 2023

The Company's net income was $13.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $10.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Net interest income increased by $6.8 million, primarily due to an increase in interest income driven by higher average balances and yields on loans, partially offset by an increase in interest expense due to higher average balances and rates on deposits. The provision for credit losses increased by $0.5 million, reflecting adjustments to expectations for credit losses based on economic trends and forecasts in the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2023. Non-interest income decreased by $0.3 million, primarily due to lower swap referral and rate lock fees during the three months ended December 31, 2024 compared to the same quarter of the prior year. Non-interest expense increased by $1.8 million with an increase in salaries and employee benefits related to the Company's expansion into the San Francisco Bay Area as the leading driver.

Year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to year ended December 31, 2023

The Company's net income was $45.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $47.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Net interest income increased by $8.8 million, primarily due to an increase in interest income driven by higher average balances and yields on loans, partially offset by an increase in interest expense due to higher average balances and rates on deposits. The provision for credit losses increased by $3.0 million, or 73.75%, as loan originations in the year ended December 31, 2024 were almost double those for the year ended December 31, 2023. Non-interest income decreased by $1.1 million, primarily due to lower income received on equity investments in venture-backed funds during the year ended December 31, 2024 than during the year ended December 31, 2023. Non-interest expense increased by $6.7 million with an increase in salaries and employee benefits related to the Company's expansion into the San Francisco Bay Area as the leading driver.

The following is a summary of the components of the Company's operating results and performance ratios for the periods indicated: