Provident Financial Holdings Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results

The Company Reports Net Income of $1.49 Million in the September 2020 Quarter
Loans Held for Investment Decrease 2% from June 30, 2020 to $885.0 MillionTotal Deposits Increase 1% from June 30, 2020 to $904.7 MillionNon-Performing Assets Decrease 8% to $4.5 Million at September 30, 2020 in Comparison to $4.9 Million at June 30, 2020Non-Interest Expense Declines 3% to $6.99 Million in the September 2020 Quarter in Comparison to the September 2019 QuarterRIVERSIDE, Calif., Oct. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Company”), NASDAQ GS: PROV, the holding company for Provident Savings Bank, F.S.B. (“Bank”), today announced first quarter earnings results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2020, the Company reported net income of $1.49 million, or $0.20 per diluted share (on 7.46 million average diluted shares outstanding), down from net income of $2.56 million, or $0.33 per diluted share (on 7.65 million average diluted shares outstanding), in the comparable period a year ago. Compared to the same quarter last year, the decrease in earnings was primarily attributable to lower net interest income and a higher provision for loan losses, partly offset by lower non-interest expenses (mainly, lower salaries and employee benefits expenses related to fewer employees and reduced incentive compensation).
“To date, Provident has successfully navigated the weak economic conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company was well-positioned for an economic downturn before the pandemic struck and our employees have been exceptional in overcoming the operational challenges subsequent to its onset,” said Craig G. Blunden, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “We will continue to operate the Company in a prudent manner and respond as required to the elevated risks in the current operating environment,” said Mr. Blunden.
Return on average assets for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was 0.50 percent, down from 0.95 percent for the same period of fiscal 2020; and return on average stockholders’ equity for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was 4.78 percent, down from 8.46 percent for the comparable period of fiscal 2020.
On a sequential quarter basis, the $1.49 million net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 reflects a six percent decrease from $1.58 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. The decrease in earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 was primarily attributable to an increase of $382,000 in non-interest expenses and a decrease of $124,000 in net interest income, partly offset by a $228,000 decrease in the provision for loan losses and a $154,000 increase in non-interest income. Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 were $0.20 per share, down five percent from the $0.21 per share during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. Return on average assets was 0.50 percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2021, down from 0.55 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020; and return on average stockholders’ equity for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was 4.78 percent, down from 5.14 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
Net interest income decreased $1.41 million, or 15 percent, to $8.17 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $9.58 million for the same quarter of fiscal 2020, attributable to a decrease in the net interest margin, partly offset by a higher average interest-earning assets balance. The net interest margin during the first quarter of fiscal 2021 decreased 80 basis points to 2.84 percent from 3.64 percent in the same quarter last year, primarily due to a decrease in the average yield of interest-earning assets reflecting primarily downward pressure on adjustable rate instruments as a result of decreases in market interest rates over the last year, partly offset by a much smaller decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The average yield on interest-earning assets decreased by 90 basis points to 3.31 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from 4.21 percent in the same quarter last year while the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 11 basis points to 0.52 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from 0.63 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of interest-earning assets increased by $98.5 million, or nine percent, to $1.15 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $1.05 billion in the same quarter last year. The average balance of interest-bearing liabilities increased by $97.5 million, or 10 percent, to $1.04 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $942.5 million in the same quarter last year.
The average balance of loans receivable decreased by $10.3 million, or one percent, to $893.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $903.3 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. The average yield on loans receivable decreased by 47 basis points to 3.99 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from an average yield of 4.46 percent in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. Net deferred loan cost amortization in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 increased 191 percent to $466,000 from $160,000 in the same quarter of fiscal 2020 due primarily to higher loan payoffs. Total loans originated and purchased for investment in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 were $48.0 million, down 49 percent from $93.4 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. Loan principal payments received in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 were $66.3 million, up 31 percent from $50.8 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020.
The average balance of investment securities increased by $60.3 million, or 63 percent, to $156.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $95.9 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. The average yield on investment securities decreased 134 basis points to 1.22 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from 2.56 percent for the same quarter of fiscal 2020. The decrease in the average yield was primarily attributable to investment security purchases with a lower average yield than the legacy portfolio of investment securities. During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Bank purchased investment securities totaling $82.8 million with an average yield of approximately 0.82%.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Federal Home Loan Bank – San Francisco (“FHLB”) distributed a $100,000 cash dividend to the Bank on its FHLB stock, down 30 percent from $143,000 in the same quarter last year.
The average balance of the Company’s interest-earning deposits, primarily cash with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, increased $48.8 million, or 110 percent, to $93.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $44.5 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020 as a result of deposit growth outpacing loan originations. The average yield earned on interest-earning deposits in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was 0.10 percent, down 206 basis points from 2.16 percent in the same quarter of fiscal 2020 largely as a result of decreases in the targeted Federal Funds Rate since August 2019.
Average deposits increased $68.5 million, or eight percent, to $899.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $830.8 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020, primarily due to increases in transaction accounts resulting primarily from government assistance programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, partly offset by a managed run-off of higher cost time deposits. The average cost of deposits improved, decreasing by 13 basis points to 0.24 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from 0.37 percent in the same quarter last year.
Transaction account balances or “core deposits” increased $20.7 million, or three percent, to $743.7 million at September 30, 2020 from $723.0 million at June 30, 2020, while time deposits decreased $9.0 million, or five percent, to $161.0 million at September 30, 2020 from $170.0 million at June 30, 2020.
The average balance of borrowings, which consisted of FHLB advances, increased $29.1 million, or 26 percent, to $140.7 million while the average cost of borrowings decreased 30 basis points to 2.26 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to an average balance of $111.6 million with an average cost of 2.56 percent in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. The increase in the average balance of borrowings was primarily due to new borrowings with a lower average cost.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $220,000, in contrast to a $181,000 recovery from the allowance for loan losses recorded during the same period of fiscal 2020 and lower than the provision for loan losses of $448,000 recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 (sequential quarter).   The provision for loan losses in the last three quarters was primarily due to a qualitative component established in our allowance for loan losses methodology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued and forecasted adverse economic impact.
Non-performing assets, with underlying collateral located in California, decreased $392,000, or 13 percent, to $4.5 million, or 0.38 percent of total assets, at September 30, 2020, compared to $4.9 million, or 0.42 percent of total assets, at June 30, 2020. The non-performing loans at September 30, 2020 are comprised of 17 single-family loans ($4.5 million) and one commercial business loan ($27,000). At both September 30, 2020 and June 30, 2020, there was no real estate owned.
Net loan recoveries for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 were $5,000 or 0.00 percent (annualized) of average loans receivable, as compared to net loan recoveries of $34,000 or 0.02 percent (annualized) of average loans receivable for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and net loan recoveries of $7,000 or 0.00 percent (annualized) of average loans receivable for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 (sequential quarter).
Classified assets at September 30, 2020 were $10.6 million, comprised of $6.0 million of loans in the special mention category, $4.6 million of loans in the substandard category and no real estate owned; while classified assets at June 30, 2020 were $14.1 million, comprised of $8.6 million of loans in the special mention category, $5.5 million of loans in the substandard category and no real estate owned.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2020, one new loan was restructured from its original terms and classified as a restructured loan, while one restructured loan was upgraded to the pass category. The outstanding balance of restructured loans at September 30, 2020 was $2.4 million (eight loans), down seven percent from $2.6 million (eight loans) at June 30, 2020. As of September 30, 2020, all of the restructured loans were classified as substandard non-accrual and all of the restructured loans have a current payment status consistent with their restructuring terms.
The Bank has received requests from borrowers for some type of payment relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since these loans were current on their payments prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these restructurings are not considered to be troubled debt restructurings at September 30, 2020 pursuant to applicable accounting guidance. The primary method of relief is to allow the borrower to defer loan payments for up to six months, although we have also waived late fees and suspended foreclosure proceedings. As of September 30, 2020, there were 44 single-family loans in forbearance with outstanding balances of approximately $17.2 million or 1.94 percent of gross loans held for investment and one multi-family loan in forbearance with an outstanding balance of approximately $455,000 or 0.05 percent of gross loans held for investment. In addition, as of September 30, 2020, the Bank had one pending request for payment relief for a single-family loan totaling approximately $264,000. Interest income is recognized during the forbearance period unless the loans are classified as non-performing. After the payment deferral period (up to six months), scheduled loan payments will once again become due and payable. The forbearance amount will be due and payable in full as a balloon payment at the end of the loan term or sooner if the loan becomes due and payable in full at an earlier date. The Company believes the steps it is taking are necessary to effectively manage the loan portfolio and assist its customers through the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the duration, impact and government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The allowance for loan losses was $8.5 million at September 30, 2020, or 0.95 percent of gross loans held for investment, compared to $8.3 million at June 30, 2020, or 0.91 percent of gross loans held for investment. Management believes that, based on currently available information, the allowance for loan losses is sufficient to absorb potential losses inherent in loans held for investment at September 30, 2020 under the incurred loss methodology.
Non-interest income increased by $89,000, or eight percent, to $1.16 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $1.07 million in the same period of fiscal 2020, primarily due to an increase in loan servicing and other fees resulting from higher loan prepayment fees, partly offset by decreases in deposit account fees reflecting reduced transactions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income increased $154,000, or 15 percent, primarily as a result of an increase in loan servicing and other fees also resulting from higher loan prepayment fees.
Non-interest expenses decreased $253,000, or three percent, to $6.99 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 from $7.24 million in the same quarter last year due primarily to lower salaries and employee benefits expenses resulting from fewer employees and lower incentive compensation, partly offset by increases in deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments (resulting from FDIC insurance premium credits used in the same quarter last year which were not replicated in the first quarter of fiscal 2021) and higher other expenses. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expenses increased $382,000 or six percent to $6.99 million from $6.60 million, primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits expenses resulting from the reversal of incentive compensation accruals in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, not replicated in the first quarter of fiscal 2021.
The Company’s efficiency ratio in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was 75 percent, up from 68 percent in the same quarter last year and 71 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 (sequential quarter) primarily due to the decrease in net interest income.
The Company’s provision for income tax was $635,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2021, down 39 percent from $1.03 million in the same quarter last year primarily due to lower pre-tax income. The effective tax rate in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was 29.95%. The Company believes that the tax provision recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 reflects its current federal and state income tax obligations.
The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 pursuant to its stock repurchase plan. As of September 30, 2020, a total of 371,815 shares or 100 percent of the shares authorized for repurchase under the April 2020 stock repurchase plan are available to purchase.
The Bank currently operates 13 retail/business banking offices in Riverside County and San Bernardino County (Inland Empire).
The Company will host a conference call for institutional investors and bank analysts on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-844-291-5489 and referencing access code number 7785263. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, November 5, 2020 by dialing 1-866-207-1041 and referencing access code number 4191012.
For more financial information about the Company please visit the website at www.myprovident.com and click on the “Investor Relations” section.Safe-Harbor StatementThis press release contains statements that the Company believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they are subject to risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements the Company may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to the Company. There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on Company’s credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions and other uncertainties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the extent and duration of the impact on public health, the U.S. and global economies, and consumer and corporate customers, including economic activity, employment levels and market liquidity; increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; legislative and regulatory changes,; including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) – which are available on our website at www.myprovident.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2021 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us and could negatively affect our operating and stock price performance. 




















⁽¹⁾  The non-performing loans balances are net of individually evaluated or collectively evaluated allowances, specifically attached to the individual loans and include fair value adjustments.

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