EASTON, Md., Jan. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shore Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ - SHBI) (the "Company") reported net income of $8.407 million or $0.42 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to net income of $9.658 million or $0.49 per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2022, and net income of $2.723 million or $0.16 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2021. Net income for the fiscal year of 2022 was $31.177 million or $1.57 per diluted common share, compared to net income for the fiscal year of 2021 of $15.368 million or $1.17 per diluted common share. Net income, excluding merger related expenses, for the fourth quarter of 2022 was $9.123 million or $0.46 per diluted common share, compared to net income, excluding merger related expenses, of $9.774 million or $0.49 per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2022 and net income, excluding merger related expenses, of $7.914 million or $0.46 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter 2021. Net income, excluding merger related expenses, for the fiscal year of 2022 was $32.728 million or $1.65 per diluted common share compared to net income for the fiscal year of 2021 of $21.237 million or $1.62 per diluted common share. On December 14, 2022, the Company and The Community Financial Corporation ("TCFC") announced that they had entered into a merger agreement pursuant to which TCFC will be merged with and into the Company. The Company anticipates additional merger-related expenses due to the pending TCFC acquisition.

When comparing net income, excluding merger related expenses, for the fourth quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2022, net income decreased $651 thousand due to a decrease in net interest income of $372 thousand and an increase in noninterest expense of $1.3 million partially offset by an increase in noninterest income of $518 thousand and a decrease in provision for credit losses of $225 thousand. When comparing net income, excluding merger related expenses, for the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2021, net income increased $1.2 million primarily due to increases in net interest income of $6.3 million and noninterest income of $733 thousand offset by increases in noninterest expense of $4.2 million due to the acquisition of Severn Bank ("Severn") in November of 2021.

"We are pleased to report our fourth quarter earnings and fiscal year 2022 financial results," said Lloyd L. "Scott" Beatty, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. "In 2022, we experienced significant loan growth of just over 20% and successful integration of Severn. With the recent announcement of our pending merger with TCFC, we expect the future of the combined organizations to be very promising given our ability to help customers with higher loan limits, make greater investments in technology and increased career opportunities for employees."

Balance Sheet Review

Total assets were $3.477 billion at December 31, 2022, a $17.1 million, or less than 1.0%, increase when compared to $3.460 billion at the end of 2021. During 2022, the Company shifted its asset mix by deploying cash and cash equivalents into higher yielding assets which consisted of loans and investment securities. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had 4 Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP') loans totaling $187 thousand that were outstanding.

Total deposits decreased $16.5 million, or less than 1%, when compared to December 31, 2021. The decrease in total deposits was due to decreases in money market and savings accounts of $85.7 million, noninterest-bearing deposits of $65.5 million and time deposits of $35.2 million, partially offset by an increase in interest bearing checking accounts of $170.0 million.

Total stockholders' equity increased $13.6 million, or 3.9%, when compared to December 31, 2021, primarily due to current year earnings, partially offset by an increase in unrealized losses on available for sale securities of $9.1 million. At December 31, 2022, the ratio of total equity to total assets was 10.48% and the ratio of total tangible equity to total tangible assets was 8.67% compared to 10.14% and 8.25% at the end of 2021, respectively.

Review of Quarterly Financial Results

Net interest income was $26.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2022, compared to $27.3 million for the third quarter of 2022 and $20.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2021. The decrease in net interest income when compared to the third quarter of 2022 was primarily due to increases in interest expense on interest-bearing deposits of $2.0 million. In addition, the decrease in the average balance on deposits with other banks of $187.3 million resulted in a decrease in interest income of $802 thousand, partially offset by an increase in interest and fees on loans of $1.7 million and interest on investment securities of $759 thousand. The improvement in interest and fees on loans was due to an increase in the average balance of loans of $140.0 million, or 6.0%. The decrease in interest on deposits at other banks was due to the utilization of cash to fund loan growth with higher yields. The increase in interest on taxable investment securities was driven by an increase in the rates of 33bps and an increase in the average balance within these securities of $43.1 million, or 7.0%.

The increase in net interest income when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 was primarily due to increases in interest and fees on loans of $7.1 million, interest on taxable investment securities of $2.3 million and interest on deposits with other banks of $495 thousand, partially offset by expense increases in interest-bearing deposits of $3.3 million, short term borrowings of $69 thousand and long-term borrowings of $228 thousand.

The Company's net interest margin decreased to 3.35% for the fourth quarter of 2022 from 3.38% for the third quarter of 2022 and increased compared to 2.87% for the fourth quarter of 2021. The decrease in net interest margin when compared to the third quarter of 2022 was primarily due to higher rates paid on interest bearing deposits and borrowings partially offset by higher yields on earning assets. The increase in net interest margin compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 was due to significantly higher volume as well as improved yields on all earning assets.

The provision for credit losses was $450 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The comparable amounts were $675 thousand and $(1.7) million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively. The decrease in the provision for credit losses during the fourth quarter of 2022 as compared to the prior quarters was primarily a result of eliminating pandemic related qualitative reserves in the fourth quarter of 2022. Net charge offs for the fourth quarter of 2022 were $84 thousand, compared to net recoveries of $119 thousand for the third quarter of 2022 and net recoveries of $142 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2021. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to period-end loans, excluding PPP loans and acquired loans, was 0.78% at December 31, 2022, compared to 0.84% at September 30, 2022, and 0.96% at December 31, 2021. The decline in the percentage of the allowance from the third quarter of 2022 was primarily due to eliminating pandemic related qualitative reserves. The decline in the percentage of the allowance from the fourth quarter of 2021 was primarily the result of lower historical loss experience as well as eliminating pandemic related qualitative reserves.

At December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2022, nonperforming assets were $4.0 million and $2.8 million, respectively. The balance of nonperforming assets increased primarily due to an increase in loans 90 days past due still accruing of $1.2 million at December 31, 2022 compared to September 30, 2022. When comparing the fourth quarter of 2022 to the fourth quarter of 2021, nonperforming assets increased $902 thousand, or 29.6%, primarily due to increases in loans 90 days past due and still accruing of $1.3 million, or 262.4% which was a result of growth and timing of matured loans. Accruing TDRs decreased $1.3 million, or 22.3%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The ratio of nonperforming assets and accruing TDRs to total assets at December 31, 2022, and September 30, 2022 was 0.24% and 0.21% respectively, and was 0.25% at December 31, 2021. In addition, the ratio of accruing TDRs to total loans at December 31, 2022 was 0.17% compared to 0.19% at September 30, 2022 and 0.27% at December 31, 2021.

Total noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased $518 thousand, or 9.7%, when compared to the third quarter of 2022 and increased $733 thousand, or 14.3%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The increase compared to the third quarter of 2022 was primarily due to increases in revenue associated with the mortgage division of $887 thousand, or 130.4%, partially offset by decreases in other banking fees of $206 thousand, or 6.5% and service charges on deposit accounts of $163 thousand, or 10.8%. The increase in noninterest income when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 was primarily due to increases in revenue associated with the mortgage division of $619 thousand, or 65.3% and, service charges on deposit accounts of $112 thousand, or 9.1%.

Total noninterest expense, excluding merger related expenses, for the fourth quarter of 2022 increased $1.3 million or 6.9%, when compared to the third quarter of 2022 and increased $4.2 million, or 26.1%, when compared to the fourth quarter of 2021. The increase in noninterest expense when compared to the third quarter of 2022 was primarily due to an increase in accruals on bonuses and group insurance in the fourth quarter. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2021 was primarily due to increases in salaries and wages, employee related benefits, occupancy expense, data processing, amortization of intangible assets and legal and professional fees, which were all significantly impacted by adding Severn and its operations and the addition of two new branches in 2022.

Review of 2022 Financial Results

Net interest income for 2022 was $101.3 million, an increase of $37.2 million, or 58.0%, when compared to 2021. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to an increase in total interest income of $43.7 million, or 62.2%, specifically interest and fees on loans of $34.3 million, or 53.0%. The improvement in interest and fees on loans was primarily due to the increase in the average balance of $725.2 million, or 46.2%, coupled with accretion income from acquired loans of $3.0 million for 2022. Taxable investment securities and interest on deposits with other banks increased $6.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively, partially offset by an increase in total interest expense of $6.5 million, or 107.7%. The increase in interest expense was primarily the result of an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits of $684.5 million, or 47.5%. Interest on short term and long-term borrowings increased by $988 thousand due to short and long-term advances with the FHLB and junior subordinated debt acquired as part of the Severn acquisition. The long-term advances with the FHLB matured in October of 2022.

The provision for credit losses for 2022 and 2021 was $1.9 million and $(358) thousand, respectively. The increase in provision for credit losses was the result of an increase in loans held for investment in 2022 of $436.9 million. The ratio of the allowance to total loans decreased from 0.66% at December 31, 2021, to 0.65% at December 31, 2022. Excluding PPP loans and acquired loans, the ratio of the allowance for credit losses to period-end loans was 0.78% at December 31, 2022, lower than the 0.96% at December 31, 2021, primarily due to lower historical loss experience and the elimination of pandemic related qualitative factors.

Total noninterest income for 2022 increased $9.6 million, or 71.0%, when compared to the same period in 2021. The increase in noninterest income primarily consisted of revenue associated with the mortgage division of $4.3 million, service charges on deposit accounts of $2.3 million, revenue from Mid-Maryland Title of $1.1 million and other noninterest income of $1.2 million. The increase in other noninterest income was primarily due to increases in rental fee income of $1.3 million.

Total noninterest expense, excluding merger related expenses, for 2022 increased $29.9 million, or 62.0%, when compared to the same period in 2021. The increase was primarily the result of higher salaries, employee benefits, occupancy expense, other intangibles, data processing costs, other noninterest expenses, and FDIC insurance premiums due to significant increases in new and existing customers and the acquisition of Severn and its operations and the addition of two new branches in 2022. In addition, during 2022 the Company recorded merger-related expenses of $1.2 million due to the acquisition of Severn and $935 thousand due to the pending merger with TCFC.

Shore Bancshares Information

Shore Bancshares is a financial holding company headquartered in Easton, Maryland and is the largest independent bank holding company located on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It is the parent company of Shore United Bank. Shore Bancshares engages in trust and wealth management services through Wye Financial Partners, a division of Shore United Bank. Additional information is available at www.shorebancshares.com.

 Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. These statements are evidenced by terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," and similar expressions. Although these statements reflect management's good faith beliefs and projections, they are not guarantees of future performance and they may not prove true. These projections involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. While there is no assurance that any list of risks and uncertainties or risk factors is complete, below are certain factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in the forward-looking statements: changes in general economic, political, or industry conditions; geopolitical concerns, including the ongoing war in Ukraine; the potential resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic and related variants and mutations and their impact on the global economy and financial market conditions and our business, results of operations, and financial condition; uncertainty in U.S. fiscal and monetary policy, including the interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation/deflation, interest rate, market, and monetary fluctuations; volatility and disruptions in global capital and credit markets; the transition away from USD LIBOR and uncertainty regarding potential alternative reference rates, including SOFR; competitive pressures on product pricing and services; success, impact, and timing of our business strategies, including market acceptance of any new products or services; the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws, and regulations, including those concerning taxes, banking, securities, and insurance, and the application thereof by regulatory bodies; cybersecurity threats and the cost of defending against them, including the costs of compliance with potential legislation to combat cybersecurity at a state, national, or global level; and other factors that may affect our future results. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section of the periodic reports filed by Shore Bancshares, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission entitled "Risk Factors."

The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to publicly announce the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.