QNB Corp. Reports Earnings For Third Quarter 2023

QUAKERTOWN, Pa., Oct. 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QNB Corp. (the “Company” or “QNB”) (OTC Bulletin Board: QNBC), the parent company of QNB Bank (the “Bank”), reported net income for the third quarter of 2023 of $2,344,000, or $0.65 per share on a diluted basis. This compares to net income of $3,415,000, or $0.96 per share on a diluted basis, for the same period in 2022. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, QNB reported net income of $8,349,000, or $2.32 per share on a diluted basis. This compares to net income of $10,474,000, or $2.94 per share on a diluted basis, reported for the same period in 2022.

For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the annualized rate of return on average assets and average shareholders’ equity was 0.52% and 5.88%, respectively, compared with 0.78% and 9.20%, respectively, for the third quarter 2022.

The operating performance of the Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of QNB Corp., declined for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, in comparison with the same period in 2022 due to interest margin compression causing a $1,221,000 decline in net interest income, additional provision for credit losses on loans and commitments of $459,000 and an increase in non-interest expense of $832,000. The change in contribution from QNB Corp. for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, compared with the same period in 2022, is primarily due to the change in fair value of the equities portfolio held at the holding company.

The following table presents disaggregated net income:

Total assets as of September 30, 2023 were $1,684,392,000 compared with $1,668,497,000 at December 31, 2022. Total available-for-sale debt securities decreased $41,135,000, or 7.5%, to $505,390,000, primarily due to calls, maturities and paydowns. Loans receivable increased $21,065,000 to approximately $1,060,450,000, or 2.0%. Total deposits increased $64,964,000 to $1,483,333,000. Short-term borrowing declined $64,624,000, or 40.1%.

“The economy continues to be resilient even with continued rate hikes causing margin compression from our rapid repricing of deposits and slower repricing of loans. This, coupled with changes in the fair value of our holding company’s equities portfolio, directly impacted our third-quarter financial results,” stated David W. Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Freeman continued, “The good news is that the hedging contracts we entered have helped mitigate the impact of increased interest rates and will continue to provide support in a rising rate environment. Additionally, we have experienced stable deposit growth and have significantly reduced our short-term borrowing positions. While our assets are flat, indicative of business and consumer pullback, our loan quality remains strong.”

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 totaled $10,213,000 and $29,963,000 respectively, a decrease of $1,166,000 and $3,255,000, respectively, from the same periods in 2022. Net interest margin was 2.38% for the third quarter of 2023 and 2.72% for the same period in 2022. Net interest margin was 2.40% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared with 2.72% for the same period in 2022.

The yield on earning assets was 4.28% for the third quarter 2023, compared with 3.23% in the third quarter of 2022. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2023, yield on earning assets was 3.97%, compared with 3.08% for the same period in 2022. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 2.35% for the quarter and 1.96% for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared with 0.65% and 0.46% for the same periods in 2022, respectively.

Proceeds from average short-term borrowings and payments received on investment securities over the past year were invested in loans. Loan growth was primarily in commercial real estate, which comprised 41% of average earning assets in the nine months of 2023 compared with 38% for the same period in 2022, and the increases in rates on both the commercial real estate loans and the commercial and industrial loans majorly contributed to the 103 basis-point increase in the yield on loans. The decline in the available-for-sale portfolio was primarily in mortgage-backed securities, which comprised 24% of average earnings assets in the nine months of 2023 compared with 27% for the same period in 2022. The 140 basis-point increase in the rate paid on deposits and the 241 basis-point increase in the rate on short-term borrowing were the primary contributors to the increase in the cost of funds of 150 basis points, contributing to the decrease in net interest margin.

Asset Quality, Provision for Credit Losses on Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses

QNB adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326) (CECL) effective January 1, 2023. QNB recorded a decrease to its allowance for loan losses of $1,089,000 and an increase to its reserve for unused commitments of $5,000. The impact of this CECL adjustment, net of deferred taxes, of $857,000 was added to shareholders' equity.

QNB recorded $452,000 in provision for credit losses on loans in the third quarter of 2023 compared to no provision in the third quarter of 2022; and reversed $1,119,000 in provision for credit losses on loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to no provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. QNB's allowance for credit losses on loans of $8,542,000 represents 0.81% of loans receivable at September 30, 2023, compared to $9,442,000, or 0.91% of loans receivable upon the adoption of CECL on January 1, 2023. Net loan charge-offs were $275,000 for the quarter and net recoveries of $219,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared with recoveries of $41,000 and $154,000 for the same periods in 2022, primarily due to commercial customers. Annualized net loan charge-offs for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 was 0.10% and annualized net loan recoveries of 0.02% for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, of average loans receivable, respectively. Annualized net loan recoveries for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022 were 0.03% and 0.02% of average loans receivable, respectively.

Total non-performing loans, which represent loans on non-accrual status, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest and restructured loans, were $5,872,000, or 0.55% of loans receivable at September 30, 2023, compared with $9,121,000, or 0.88% of loans receivable at December 31, 2022, and $10,694,000, or 1.06% of loans receivable at September 30, 2022. In cases where there is a collateral shortfall on non-accrual loans, specific impairment reserves have been established based on updated collateral values even if the borrower continues to pay in accordance with the terms of the agreement. At September 30, 2023, $1,489,000, or approximately 79% of the loans classified as non-accrual, are current or past due less than 30 days. Commercial loans classified as substandard or doubtful loans totaled $11,914,000 at September 30, 2023, compared with $13,684,000 at December 31, 2022, and $17,554,000 at September 30, 2022.

Non-Interest Income

Total non-interest income was $1,755,000 for the third quarter of 2023 compared with $484,000 for the same period in 2022. There was a net realized gain of $131,000 on the sale of investments for the quarter ended September 30, 2023; there were no sales of securities in the same period in 2022. Unrealized net loss on investment equity securities was $138,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 compared to a net loss of $1,174,000 for the same period in 2022. The equities portfolio comprises blue-chip large-capitalized stocks, providing a taxable equivalent dividend yield of 3.26%.

ATM and debit card income increased $16,000 to $685,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, income is related to card usage. Retail brokerage and advisory income increased $25,000 to $219,000 for the same period. Bank-owned life insurance decreased $40,000 for the same period. Other income included a sales tax refund of $115,000 in the third quarter of 2023.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, non-interest income was $4,554,000 an increase of $1,820,000 compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to the change in fair value of the equities portfolio of $1,974,000. Realized gain on sale of securities was $185,000, a decline of $308,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared with the same period in 2022. Increases in non-interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022 comprise: fees for services to customers, ATM and debit card fees, and retail brokerage and advisory income, which increased $27,000, $33,000, and $51,000, respectively. Other non-interest income increased $44,000 due primarily to a sales tax refund of $115,000, partly offset by title insurance income declining $31,000.

Non-Interest Expense

Total non-interest expense was $8,671,000 for the third quarter of 2023 compared with $7,814,000 for the same period in 2022. Salaries and benefits expense increased $600,000, or 13.7%, to $4,971,000 when comparing the two quarters. Salary expense and related payroll taxes increased $405,000, to $4,132,000 during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Benefits expense increased $161,000, when comparing the two periods.

Net occupancy and furniture and equipment expense increased $190,000, to $1,504,000 for the third quarter of 2023 due to software maintenance costs. Other non-interest expense increased $67,000 when comparing third quarter of 2023 with the same period in 2022 due to an increase in FDIC insurance of $97,000, an increase in marketing expense of $75,000, write-offs due to fraud on customer accounts of $74,000, and net recoveries in 2022 on taxes and insurance paid on special assets over costs in 2023 of $46,000, partly offset be a decrease in Bank shares tax of $212,000.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, non-interest expense was $25,363,000, an increase of $1,990,000, or 8.5%, compared to the same period in 2022.

Provision for income taxes decreased $140,000 to $494,000 in the third quarter of 2023 due to decreased pre-tax income, compared with the same period in 2022. The effective tax rates for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2023 were 17.4% and 18.9%, respectively, compared with 15.7% and 16.7%, respectively, for the same periods in 2022.

About the Company

QNB Corp. is the holding company for QNB Bank, which is headquartered in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. QNB Bank currently operates twelve branches in Bucks, Montgomery and Lehigh Counties and offers commercial and retail banking services in the communities it serves. In addition, the Company provides securities and advisory services under the name of QNB Financial Services through a registered Broker/Dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, and title insurance as a member of Laurel Abstract Company LLC. More information about QNB Corp. and QNB Bank is available at QNBBank.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. Such factors include the possibility that increased demand or prices for the Company’s financial services and products may not occur, changing economic and competitive conditions, technological developments, and other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Item lA. Risk Factors," set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Contacts:

David W. Freeman
President & Chief Executive Officer
215-538-5600 x-5619
dfreeman@qnbbank.com

Jeffrey Lehocky
Chief Financial Officer
215-538-5600 x-5716
jlehocky@qnbbank.com

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