German American Bancorp, Inc. (GABC) Reports Solid Second Quarter 2023 Earnings

JASPER, Ind., July 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- German American Bancorp, Inc. ( GABC) reported solid second quarter earnings of $22.1 million, or $0.75 per share. This level of quarterly earnings reflected a linked quarter increase of $1.3 million, or approximately 6% on a per share basis, from 2023 first quarter earnings of $20.8 million or $0.71 per share.

The Company remained well positioned at the end of the second quarter 2023 with continued solid liquidity and strong capital. Second quarter 2023 operating performance was highlighted by marginal net interest margin compression, solid loan growth, a stable/diversified deposit base, continued strong credit metrics, reductions in non-interest expense and growth in most non-interest income categories.

The net interest margin declined marginally from 3.69% to 3.63%, or 6 basis points, during the second quarter of 2023 as compared to the first quarter of 2023, as the earning asset yield increase of 21 basis points mostly kept pace with the funding cost increase of 27 basis points. The continued rise in the cost of funds in the second quarter of 2023 was driven by the continued historic pace of Federal Reserve interest rate increases, competitive deposit pricing in the marketplace, and a change in the Company’s deposit composition as customers looked for higher yield opportunities.

Second quarter 2023 deposits increased approximately $24.8 million, or 2% on an annualized basis, compared to the first quarter of 2023. Non interest bearing accounts remained stable at a healthy 30% of total deposits. The core deposit base remains diverse with stable and manageable exposure to uninsured and uncollateralized deposits of approximately 21%.

During the second quarter of 2023, total loans increased $57.6 million, or 6% on an annualized basis, with all categories of loans showing growth. The Company’s loan portfolio composition remained diverse with minimal risk exposure to the commercial office sector. Credit metrics remained strong as non-performing assets were 0.21% of period end assets and non-performing loans totaled 0.32% of period end loans.

Non-Interest income for the second quarter 2023 was relatively flat when compared to the linked first quarter 2023, as cyclical insurance contingency revenue of nearly $1 million was recognized in the first quarter. Most other non-interest income lines reflected solid increases over the linked first quarter. Wealth management fees increased 10% attributable to increased assets under management; interchange fee income increased 5% driven by increased customer card utilization; and other operating income increased 21% driven by interest rate swap transactions.

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, which will be payable on August 20, 2023 to shareholders of record as of August 10, 2023. As previously reported, this dividend rate represents a 9% increase over the rate in effect during 2022.

D. Neil Dauby, German American’s Chairman & CEO stated, “We are extremely pleased to deliver solid second quarter operating performance. German American remains extremely well positioned with solid liquidity, strong capital and a diverse core deposit base which speaks to the strength and resilience of our Company. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our relationship-focused team of professionals, we are confident that our strong community presence, healthy financial condition and disciplined approach to risk management and earnings growth will continue to drive future profitability. We remain excited and committed to the vitality and growth of our Indiana and Kentucky communities.”

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets for the Company totaled $6.053 billion at June 30, 2023, representing an increase of $56.4 million compared with March 31, 2023 and a decline of $418.4 million compared with June 30, 2022. The increase in total assets at June 30, 2023 compared with March 31, 2023 was primarily related to an increase in total loans, while the decline in total assets compared to June 30, 2022 was largely attributable to a decline in total deposits which in turn has led to a decline in short-term investments as well as the Company's securities portfolio. Federal funds sold and other short-term investments totaled $62.9 million at June 30, 2023 compared with $10.3 million at March 31, 2023 and $415.1 million at June 30, 2022.

Securities available for sale declined $69.5 million as of June 30, 2023 compared with March 31, 2023 and declined $221.0 million compared with June 30, 2022. The changes in the available for sale securities portfolio during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the end of the first quarter 2023 was largely attributable to the Company's utilization of cash flows from the securities portfolio to fund loan growth. Total cash flow generated from the portfolio totaled approximately $56.0 million during the second quarter of 2023, reflecting principal and interest payments as well as a modest level of securities sales. Current projections indicate approximately $150.0 million in principal and interest cash flows from the portfolio over the next twelve months with rates unchanged. The decline in the securities portfolio at June 30, 2023 compared with June 30, 2022 was largely attributable to fair value adjustments on the portfolio caused by the rise in market interest rates over the past year and the Company's utilization of cash flows generated by the portfolio for general balance sheet funding.

June 30, 2023 total loans increased $57.6 million, or 6% on an annualized basis, compared with March 31, 2023 and increased $177.7 million, or 5%, compared with June 30, 2022. The increase during the second quarter of 2023 compared with March 31, 2023 was broad-based across all segments of the portfolio. Commercial and industrial loans increased $1.8 million, or 1% on an annualized basis, commercial real estate loans increased $20.9 million, or 4% on an annualized basis, while agricultural loans grew $16.9 million, or 18% on an annualized basis, and retail loans grew by $18.0 million, or 10% on an annualized basis.

The composition of the loan portfolio has remained relatively stable and diversified over the past several years, including 2023. The portfolio is most heavily concentrated in commercial real estate loans at 53% of the portfolio, followed by commercial and industrial loans at 17% of the portfolio, and agricultural loans at 10% of the portfolio. The Company’s commercial lending is extended to various industries, including multi-family housing and lodging, agribusiness and manufacturing, as well as health care, wholesale, and retail services. The Company's commercial real estate portfolio has limited exposure to office real estate, with office exposure totaling approximately 4% of the total loan portfolio.

The Company’s allowance for credit losses totaled $44.3 million at both June 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023 compared to $45.0 million at June 30, 2022. The allowance for credit losses represented 1.16% of period-end loans at June 30, 2023 compared with 1.18% at March 31, 2023 and 1.23% of period-end loans at June 30, 2022.

Non-performing assets totaled $12.4 million at June 30, 2023 compared to $14.6 million at March 31, 2023 and $15.1 million at June 30, 2022. Non-performing assets represented 0.21% of total assets at June 30, 2023 compared to 0.24% at March 31, 2023 and 0.23% at June 30, 2022. Non-performing loans totaled $12.4 million at June 30, 2023 compared to $14.6 million at March 31, 2023 and $15.1 million at June 30, 2022. Non-performing loans represented 0.32% of total loans at June 30, 2023 compared to 0.39% at March 31, 2023 and 0.41% at June 30, 2022.

Overall deposits stabilized during the second quarter of 2023 compared with the overall level of deposits at March 31, 2023. June 30, 2023 total deposits increased $24.8 million, or 2% on an annualized basis, compared to March 31, 2023 and declined $533.9 million, or 9%, compared with June 30, 2022. The Company has continued to see customer movement from both interest bearing and non-interest bearing transactional accounts to time deposits due primarily to the rising interest rate environment. Non-interest bearing deposits have remained relatively stable as a percent of total deposits with June 30, 2023 non-interest deposits totaling 30% of total deposits compared with 31% at both March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022.

A competitive market driven by rising interest rates has been a significant contributing factor to the decline in total deposits over the course of the past year. Additionally, a meaningful level of the outflow of deposits experienced during the past year was captured within the Company's wealth management group.

June 30, 2023 total borrowings increased $36.4 million compared to March 31, 2023 and increased $82.6 million compared with June 30, 2022. The increase in total borrowings over the course of the second quarter of 2023 and past year has been to fund loan growth and mitigate deposit outflows.

At June 30, 2023, the capital levels for the Company and its subsidiary bank, German American Bank (the "Bank"), remained well in excess of the minimum amounts needed for capital adequacy purposes and the Bank’s capital levels met the necessary requirements to be considered well-capitalized.

Results of Operations Highlights – Quarter ended June 30, 2023

Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 totaled $22,123,000, or $0.75 per share, an increase of 6% on a per share basis, compared with the first quarter 2023 net income of $20,807,000, or $0.71 per share, and a decline of 7% on a per share basis compared with the second quarter 2022 net income of $23,747,000, or $0.81 per share.