CFSB BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCES FISCAL THIRD QUARTER 2023 FINANCIAL RESULTS

QUINCY, Mass., April 25, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CFSB Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ Capital Market: CFSB), the holding company for Colonial Federal Savings Bank (the "Bank"), today announced net income of $355,000, or $0.06 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to net income of $341,000, or $0.05 per basic and diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and a net loss of $828,000, or $0.15 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Net income on a non-GAAP basis, excluding the contribution to the charitable foundation established in connection with the Bank's mutual holding company reorganization, was $429,000, or $0.08 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Please see the tables attached hereto for a reconciliation of these and other non-GAAP financial measures.

For the nine months ended March 31, 2023, net income was $1.3 million, or $0.21 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $122,000, for the nine months ended March 31, 2022. Net income on a non-GAAP basis, excluding the charitable contribution and gain on the sale of securities, was $1.1 million, for the nine months ended March 31, 2022. Please see the tables attached hereto for a reconciliation of these and other non-GAAP financial measures.

Michael E. McFarland, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "In light of recent events in the banking industry, we want to emphasize that we are a well-capitalized, liquid, conservatively managed community bank with pristine asset quality. Looking at the third quarter's operating results, we were pleased to see a reduction in non-interest expense translate into increased net income as compared to the linked quarter. However, we expect to see the higher interest rate environment continue to create deposit pricing pressures and decreased loan demand."

Third Quarter Operating Results
Net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis decreased by $190,000, or 8.0%, to $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from $2.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to a 66 basis point increase in the average rate paid for certificates of deposit, partially offset by a six basis point increase in the average yield earned for interest-earning assets. The interest earned on loans increased $43,000, to $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. The interest earned on loans benefitted from rising interest rates and from an increase in the average balance of loans of $1.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The net interest margin decreased by 18 basis points to 2.59% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from 2.77% for the three months ended December 31, 2022.

Net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis increased by $95,000, or 4.6%, to $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The net interest margin increased by 17 basis points to 2.59% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from 2.42% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The improvement reflects growth in the average balance of loans and securities of $5.0 million and $23.1 million, respectively, and increases in the average yield earned on loans, securities, and cash and short-term investments of nine, 36 and 385 basis points, respectively, from the three months ended March 31, 2022. Partially offsetting the improvement in interest and dividend income was a 50 basis point increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities from the three months ended March 31, 2022 due primarily to increased interest paid on certificates of deposit in the higher interest rate environment.

The Company did not record a provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022. A provision for loan losses of $1,000 was recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans was 0.98%, 0.97% and 1.00% at March 31, 2023, December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively.

Non-interest income decreased $4,000, or 2.6%, to $148,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 from $152,000 in the quarter ended December 31, 2022, due to a decrease of $6,000 in other income.

Non-interest income decreased $5,000, or 3.3%, to $148,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, from $153,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, principally due to a decrease of $11,000 in income on bank-owned life insurance.

Non-interest expenses decreased $186,000, or 8.9%, to $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 from $2.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was due to a decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense of $147,000, or 11.8%, primarily attributed to a discretionary year-end bonus awarded to employees in the quarter ended December 31, 2022. In addition, advertising expense decreased $33,000 from the prior quarter due to decreases in employment agency fees.

Non-interest expenses decreased $1.3 million, or 41.1%, to $1.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 from $3.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. A $1.6 million charitable foundation contribution made during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was the primary reason for the decline in non-interest expenses from the prior year quarter. Excluding this item, which management considers to be a non-recurring item, non-interest expenses would have increased $228,000, or 13.6%, to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase was principally due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits of $147,000, attributed to ESOP expenses incurred in the current year, an increase in headcount, and increases to employee salaries and health insurance benefits and due to increases in other general and administrative expenses of $66,000, attributed to the costs of being a public company.

Income tax expense was $47,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $65,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and a benefit for income taxes of $196,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the three months ended December 31, 2022 was due to charitable contributions made during the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase in the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022 was due to decreases in tax-exempt municipal securities income and decreases in bank-owned life insurance income.

Year-to-Date Operating Results
Net interest income increased on a fully tax-equivalent basis by $802,000, or 13.1%, to $6.9 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2023 from $6.1 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2022. Total interest-earning assets income increased $1.1 million from the prior year period due to an increase in the average balance of securities and loans, and due to higher average yields earned on securities and cash and short-term investments, offset by a decrease in the average balance of cash and short-term investments. An increase in the average balance of loans of $7.0 million, or 4.1%, contributed to a $67,000 increase in loan income, partially offset by a 10 basis point decline in the average yield earned. An increase in the average balance of securities of $33.1 million, or 28.3%, and a 24 basis point increase in the average yield earned on securities contributed to a $819,000 increase in securities income. Partially offsetting the increase in interest and dividend income was a $337,000 increase in interest expense. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the interest paid on certificates of deposit of $345,000 from the prior year period due to a 52 basis point increase in the cost of such deposits. The net interest margin improved 22 basis points for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, to 2.71%, from 2.49% in the prior year.

The Company did not recognize a provision for loan losses for the nine months ended March 31, 2023, compared to a provision for loan losses for the nine months ended March 31, 2022 of $26,000.

Non-interest income decreased $29,000, or 5.5%, to $500,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023 from $529,000 in the prior year period, principally due to a decrease of $48,000 in the gain on sale of securities available for sale. Excluding the gain on sale of securities available for sale, which management believes was a non-recurring operating activity, non-interest income would have increased $19,000, or 4.0% from the prior year period, due to increases in customer service fees.

Non-interest expenses decreased $998,000, or 14.8%, to $5.7 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2023 from $6.7 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2022. A $1.6 million charitable foundation contribution made during the nine months ended March 31, 2022 was the primary reason for the decline in non-interest expense from the prior year. Excluding this item, which management considers to be a non-recurring item, non-interest expense would have increased $556,000, or 10.7%, for the nine months ended March 31, 2023. Salaries and benefits increased $310,000, or 10.1%, to $3.4 million, due to annual increases to salaries and health insurance of employees, an increase in headcount, and the addition of ESOP expense in the current year. Occupancy and equipment expense increased $98,000, or 14.9%, to $754,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023 from $656,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2022, due to the renewal of a branch lease in the current fiscal year and for increases to service maintenance contracts. Other general and administrative expense increased $112,000, or 10.9% from the prior year period due to increases in professional fees.

Income tax expense was $282,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023 compared to an income tax benefit of $64,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2022. The income tax benefit during the nine months ended March 31, 2022 was primarily due to the charitable foundation established in connection with the Bank's mutual holding company reorganization.

Balance Sheet
At March 31, 2023, total assets amounted to $351.7 million, compared to $356.8 million at December 31, 2022, a decrease of $5.2 million, or 1.4%, as a $5.2 million decrease in total cash and cash equivalents and a $1.6 million decrease in net loans were partially offset by a $1.5 million increase in securities held to maturity. The decrease in net loans was due to decreased loan demand in the higher interest rate environment. The net unrealized loss position on our securities held to maturity decreased $2.6 million to $14.2 million at March 31, 2023, from $16.8 million at December 31, 2022. Deposits decreased by $5.5 million, or 2.0%, in the quarter, as the Bank is experiencing decreases of customer deposits with the absence of government stimulus and increases in inflation, in addition to mix-shift changes by depositors to higher-yielding term certificates due to the higher interest rate environment.

Total stockholders' equity was $75.7 million at March 31, 2023 compared to $75.3 million at December 31, 2022. The increase of $395,000 reflects net income of $355,000, earned ESOP compensation of $25,000, and stock-based award expense of $19,000.

Total assets at March 31, 2023 decreased $10.9 million, or 3.0%, from $362.5 million at March 31, 2022. Contributing to the decrease in assets was a decrease of $31.9 million in cash and cash equivalents to $5.3 million at March 31, 2023 from $37.3 million at March 31, 2022, partially offset by a $16.3 million increase in securities held to maturity and $4.2 million in loan growth. Commercial real estate loans increased by $5.3 million, or 34.4%, as we focused on diversifying our loan mix. Total deposits decreased by $14.0 million, or 4.9%, to $270.0 million at March 31, 2023 from $284.0 million at March 31, 2022, principally due to decreases in customer deposits with the absence of government stimulus and increases in inflation, in addition to mix-shift changes by depositors to higher-yielding term certificates in the higher interest rate environment.

Total stockholders' equity was $75.7 million at March 31, 2023 compared to $73.7 million at March 31, 2022. The increase of $2.0 million was due to net income earned during the previous twelve months of $1.9 million and earned ESOP compensation of $107,000.

About CFSB Bancorp, Inc.
CFSB Bancorp, Inc. is a federal corporation organized as the mid-tier holding company of Colonial Federal Savings Bank and is the majority-owned subsidiary of 15 Beach, MHC. Colonial Federal Savings Bank is a federally chartered stock savings bank that has served the banking needs of its customers on the south shore of Massachusetts since 1889. It operates from three full-service offices and one limited-service office in Quincy, Holbrook and Weymouth, Massachusetts.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "project," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "assume," "plan," "seek," "expect," "will," "may," "should," "indicate," "would," "believe," "contemplate," "continue," "target" and words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic on our operations and financial results and those of our customers, increased competitive pressures, demand for loan products, deposit flows, changes in the interest rate environment, the effects of inflation, potential recessionary conditions, general economic conditions or conditions within the securities markets, monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the FRB, changes in the quality, size and composition of our loan and securities portfolios, changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio, including the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; changes in demand for our products and services, legislative, accounting, tax and regulatory changes, the current or anticipated impact of military conflict, terrorism or other geopolitical events, a failure in or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, including cyberattacks that could adversely affect the Company's financial condition and results of operations and the business in which the Company and the Bank are engaged, the failure to maintain current technologies and the failure to retain or attract employees.

You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. CFSB Bancorp, Inc. undertakes no obligation to revise these forward-looking statements or to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as return on average assets, return on average equity, the efficiency ratio, profit percentage, tangible book value per share, non-interest income to total income and, where applicable, as adjusted for non-recurring items. These non-GAAP financial measures provide information for investors to effectively analyze financial trends of on-going business activities, and to enhance comparability with peers across the financial services sector.

SOURCE Colonial Federal Savings Bank