Bank of Botetourt posts profitable first quarter financial results

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Apr 25, 2024, 08:30 ET

BUCHANAN, Va., April 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Buchanan-based Bank of Botetourt (OTCPK: BORT and BORTP) announced today its unaudited financial results for the three months-end March 31, 2024. The Bank produced net income amounting to $1,828,000 or $0.88 per basic share in the first quarter. This amount compares to a net income of $2,294,000 or $1.12 per share, for the same period last year.

At March 31, 2024, select financial information and key highlights include:

Return on average assets of 0.92%
Return on average equity of 9.69%
Book value of $35.60
Total deposit growth of 1.42%
Total asset growth of 1.42%
Total loan growth of 2.21%
Community Bank Leverage Ratio of 10.35%

As a result of the solid financial performance, the Board of Directors voted to pay the 7.00% preferred dividend, which calculates to $0.49 per share on May 9, 2024 to preferred shareholders of record May 2, 2024. Furthermore, the Board of Directors voted to pay the $0.20 per share quarterly dividend, or $0.80 per share annualized which is payable on May 17, 2024 to common shareholders of record May 10, 2024. CEO & Vice-Chairman, G. Lyn Hayth, III stated, "Strong financial results for the first quarter are the foundation for sustainable growth, and it's the commitment of a strong community presence and delivering shareholder value that truly propels the Bank towards lasting success."

Results of Operations

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $1,828,000 compared to $2,294,000 for the same period last year, representing a decrease of $466,000 or 20.31%. Basic and diluted earnings per share decreased $0.24 from $1.12 at March 31, 2023 to $0.88 at March 31, 2024. The decrease in net income is primarily due to $2,240,000 more interest expense, $177,000 more employee salary and benefits, offset by $2,140,000 more interest and fees on loans and $206,000 less provision for credit losses.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Bank recorded a provision for credit loss expense of $66,000 and a reserve for unfunded commitments of $(42,000), which is included in other expenses. This compares to $272,000 for the same period last year, representing a decrease of $206,000. The provision recorded during the quarter mainly reflected allocations necessitated by net loan growth and adjustments to historical loss factors to better represent expectations for future credit losses. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to total loans and leases outstanding was 1.24% at the end of the quarter, down 1 basis points from the prior quarter and down 17 basis points from the end of the same quarter of 2023. Net charge-offs were $11,000 at March 31, 2024 as compared to $36,000 at March 31, 2023.

At March 31, 2024 net loans increased 2.21%. Interest and fees on loans at March 31, 2024 increased $2,140,000 over the same three month time period of 2023. Interest expense increased by $2,240,000 from $1,436,000 at March 31, 2023 to $3,676,000 at March 31, 2024. The higher interest expense is a result of higher interest rates paid on the balances of interest-bearing deposits than for the same time period of 2023 and the addition of interest on borrowed funds.

Noninterest income decreased by $153,000, or 11.45%, to $1,183,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $1,336,000 for same time period of 2023. The decrease is attributable primarily to less income from title insurance subsidiaries, partially offset by an increase in service charges on deposit accounts and an increase in gain on sale of mortgage loans.

Noninterest expense increased $338,000 from $4,598,000 at March 31, 2023 to $4,936,000 at March 31, 2024. The increase is primarily related to increases in salary and employee benefits, debit card expense, and core processing expenses.

Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $471,000 compared to $584,000 one year prior. The decrease in tax expense is due to lower revenue for the quarter.

Financial Condition

At March 31, 2024 total assets amounted to $802,227,000, an increase of 1.42% above total assets at December 31, 2023 of $791,015,000, an increase of $11,212,000. Total net loans increased $13,138,000 or 2.21% from $593,256,000 at December 31, 2023 to $606,394,000 at March 31, 2024. Total deposits at December 31, 2023 amounted to $691,584,000, compared to $701,400,000 at March 31, 2024, an increase of 1.42% or $9,816,000.

Stockholders' equity totaled $76,169,000 at March 31, 2024 compared to $74,778,000 at December 31, 2023. The $1,391,000 increase during the period is net income for 2024, net proceeds from the issuance of common stock from the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, and partially offset by dividends paid and increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

Non-Performing Assets

Bank of Botetourt has no foreclosed properties. Therefore, non-performing assets only consisted of nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024, respectively. Non-performing assets decreased from $121,000 at December 31, 2023 to $104,000 at March 31, 2024. The decrease is attributable to the sale of collateral on one consumer loan secured by multiple vehicles. The sale of collateral resulted in the subsequent paydown of the consumer loan followed by the subsequent charge-off of the remaining total loan balance. One auto loan totaling $25,000 was added to nonaccrual loans during the first quarter. The decrease in nonaccrual loans is attributable to the charge-off and payment activity of the aforementioned loans.

A loan is considered impaired if it is probable that the Bank will be unable to collect all amounts due under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Impaired loans amounted to $1,511,000 at March 31, 2024 compared to $1,532,000 at December 31, 2023. The decrease in impaired loans is attributable to one other consumer loan being partially paid off from the sale of collateral followed by charge-off of the remaining balance, offset by the addition of one auto loan. Loss exposure on impaired loans increased from $93,000 at December 31, 2023 to $94,000 at March 31, 2024. The increase is attributable to the addition of one auto loan with a specific reserve of $2,000, offset by the decrease in exposure on a consumer loan and residential loan as a result of payments made during 2024.

Capital Ratios

Bank of Botetourt qualified for and adopted the optional, simplified measure of capital adequacy, the community bank leverage ratio framework, consistent with Section 201 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. A qualifying community banking organization is defined as having less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, a leverage ratio greater than 9%, off-balance sheet exposures of 25% or less of total consolidated assets, and trading assets and liabilities of 5% or less of total consolidated assets. It also cannot be an advanced approaches institution. Bank of Botetourt qualified to opt-in to the Community Bank Leverage Ratio ("CBLR"). As of March 31, 2024 Bank of Botetourt reported its CBLR ratio at 10.35% which meets the required regulatory minimum ratio. This compares to a CBLR ratio of 10.36% at December 31, 2023.

About Bank of Botetourt

Bank of Botetourt was chartered in 1899 and operates thirteen retail offices in Botetourt, Rockbridge, Roanoke, and Franklin counties, the City of Salem, and the Town of Vinton, all in Virginia. Bank of Botetourt also operates a mortgage division, Virginia Mountain Mortgage and a financial services division, Botetourt Wealth Management. In April 2024, Bank of Botetourt celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of its fourteenth office in Rocky Mount, Virginia.

Bank of Botetourt Balance Sheets, unconsolidated March 31, 2024 (unaudited) and December 31, 2023

	(unaudited)	(audited)
	March 31,	December 31,
	2024	2023
Assets

Cash and due from banks	$ 9,009,000	$ 10,410,000
Interest-bearing deposits with banks	61,340,000	58,800,000
Federal funds sold	487,000	524,000
Total cash and cash equivalents	70,836,000	69,734,000
Debt securities held to maturity, net of allowance	9,932,000	9,932,000
for credit losses of $18,000 at March 31, 2024 and $18,000
at December 31, 2023
Debt securities available for sale	81,252,000	85,663,000
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses of $7,639,000 at	606,394,000	593,256,000
March 31, 2024 and $7,542,000 at December 31, 2023
Loans held for sale	588,000	-
Premises and fixed assets, net	14,613,000	14,652,000
Other real estate owned	-	-
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries	3,071,000	3,000,000
Other assets	15,541,000	14,778,000
Total assets	802,227,000	791,015,000

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits	$ 164,927,000	$ 161,464,000
Interest-bearing deposits	536,473,000	530,120,000
Total deposits	701,400,000	691,584,000

Other borrowings	19,000,000	19,000,000
Other liabilities	5,658,000	5,653,000
Total liabilities	726,058,000	716,237,000

Commitments and contingencies	-	-

Stockholders' Equity
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 1,000,000 shares
authorized; 243,659 issued and outstanding
at March 31, 2024 and at December 31, 2023, respectively	244,000	244,000
Common stock, $1.50 par value; 5,000,000 shares
authorized; 1,954,196 and 1,951,372 issued and
outstanding at March 31, 2024 and at December 31, 2023
respectively	2,931,000	2,927,000
Additional paid-in capital	24,012,000	23,937,000
Retained earnings	54,696,000	53,377,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(5,714,000)	(5,707,000)
Total stockholders' equity	76,169,000	74,778,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	802,227,000	791,015,000

Bank of Botetourt Income Statement For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31
	Three Months Ended March 31
	2024		2023
Interest income
Loans and fees on loans	$ 8,654,000		$ 6,514,000
Securities:
U.S. Treasury and Government Agencies	203,000		222,000
Mortgage-backed securities	68,000		81,000
All other securities	217,000		228,000
Due from depository institutions	647,000		799,000
Federal Funds Sold	5,000		4,000
Total interest income	9,794,000		7,848,000

Interest expense
Deposits	3,433,000		1,436,000
Other borrowings	243,000		-
Total interest expense	3,676,000		1,436,000
Net interest Income	6,118,000		6,412,000

Provision for credit losses	66,000		272,000
Net interest income after credit loss expense	6,052,000		6,140,000

Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts	277,000		254,000
Securities brokerage and annuities	67,000		57,000
Other income, net of gains	839,000		1,025,000
Total noninterest income	1,183,000		1,336,000

Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits	2,226,000		2,049,000
Premises and fixed assets expense	491,000		483,000
Other expense	2,219,000		2,066,000
Total noninterest expense	4,936,000		4,598,000
Income before income taxes	2,299,000		2,878,000

Income tax expense	471,000		584,000
Net income	1,828,000		2,294,000
Preferred stock dividends	119,000		119,000
Net income available to common shareholders	$ 1,709,000	#	$ 2,175,000

Basic earnings per common share	$ 0.88		$ 1.12
Diluted earnings per common share	$ 0.88		$ 1.12
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.20		$ 0.1925
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	1,952,768		1,942,664
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	1,952,768		1,942,664