PAOLI, Pa., July 31, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Malvern Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: MLVF), parent company of Malvern Bank, National Association, today reported operating results for the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2019. Net income amounted to $2.7 million, or $0.35 per fully diluted common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2019, compared with net income of $2.2 million, or $0.35 per fully diluted common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2018. Annualized return on average assets was 0.88 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2019, compared to 0.85 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2018, and annualized return on average equity was 7.66 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2019, compared with 8.40 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Excluding provision expense, net of tax, of $44,000, third fiscal quarter 2019 adjusted ROAA was 0.89 percent and adjusted ROAE was 7.79 percent.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2019, net income amounted to $6.6 million, or $0.87 per fully diluted common share, compared with net income of $4.7 million, or $0.72 per fully diluted common share, for the nine months ended June 30, 2018. ROAA was 0.78 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2019, compared to 0.59 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2018, and ROAE was 6.48 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2019, compared with 5.92 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2018. Excluding provision expense, net of tax, of $1.9 million, adjusted ROAA was 1.00 percent and adjusted annualized ROAE was 8.34 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2019.

“Our top line revenue increased despite the lower net growth in loans during the period. Other aspects of operations were also positive, and we believe we are well positioned to execute our strategic plan through the remainder of fiscal 2019 and into 2020. Our continued focus on client service remains constant and is a key driver in gathering customer relationships, fueling the business model advancement and our resulting performance,” commented Anthony C. Weagley, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Joseph D. Gangemi, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, added: “Liquidity remained elevated to fuel loan growth during the quarter and anticipated loan growth in the fourth fiscal quarter. While the large cash balances do have a dampening effect on margins, we expect liquidity to continue to remain elevated to fund current pipelines, we also anticipate a positive impact on margins with the investment of our cash into loans.”

Net Interest Income

Net interest income both as reported and on a fully tax equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, was $7.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019. Net interest income on a fully tax-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, increased $450,000, or 6.4 percent, from $7.0 million for the comparable three-month period in fiscal 2018. The change for the three months ended June 30, 2019 primarily was the result of an increase of $145.7 million in the average balance of loans. The increase in average loans primarily reflects a net increase in commercial loans and, to a lesser extent, a net increase in residential loans. The net interest spread on an annualized tax-equivalent basis was 2.29 percent and 2.56 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the quarter ended June 30, 2019, the Company’s net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis decreased to 2.54 percent as compared to 2.75 percent for the same three-month period in fiscal 2018.

Net interest income both as reported and on a fully tax equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, was $21.7 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2019. Net interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, increased $1.7 million, or 8.4 percent, from $20.0 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2018. The change for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 primarily was the result of an increase of $121.3 million in the average balance of, primarily commercial loans. The net interest spread on an annualized tax-equivalent basis was 2.36 percent and 2.43 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the nine months ended June 30, 2019, the Company’s net interest margin on a tax-equivalent basis increased slightly to 2.62 percent as compared to 2.60 percent for the same nine-month period in fiscal 2018.

Total Interest Income

For the three months ended June 30, 2019, total interest income both as reported and on a fully tax-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, was $12.5 million. Total interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, increased $2.2 million, or 21.7 percent, from $10.2 million for three months ended June 30, 2018, primarily due to a $145.7 million increase in the average balance of our loans.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2019, total interest income both as reported and on a fully tax equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, was $35.0 million. Total interest income on a fully tax equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, increased $5.5 million, or 18.7 percent, from $29.5 million for the nine months ended June 30, 2018. Interest income rose for the nine months ended June 30, 2019, compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2018, primarily due to a $121.3 million increase in average loan balances. Compared to the nine months ended June 30, 2018, average interest earning assets increased $77.7 million, the net interest spread decreased on an annualized tax-equivalent basis by seven basis points and the net interest margin increased slightly on an annualized tax-equivalent basis by two basis points at nine months ended June 30, 2019. Total interest expense increased by $3.8 million, or 40.3 percent, to $13.3 million, for the nine months ended June 30, 2019, compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2018.

Interest Expense

For the three months ended June 30, 2019, interest expense increased by $1.8 million, or 55.0 percent, to $5.0 million, for the three months ended June 30, 2019, compared to the same period in fiscal 2018, primarily due to an increase of $169.3 in deposits and an increase in average rates. The increase in deposits reflects an increase in interest-bearing demand and time deposits. The annualized average rate of total interest-bearing liabilities increased 50 basis points to 1.95 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2019, from 1.45 percent for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and, on a linked sequential quarter basis, increased from 1.85 percent or ten basis points compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2019. At the same time, the average balance of total interest-bearing liabilities increased by $131.3 million. This increase primarily reflects an increase in the average balance of total interest-bearing deposit accounts of $136.5 million and a decrease in the average balance of borrowings of $5.2 million.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2019, interest expense increased by $3.8 million, or 40.3 percent, to $13.3 million, for the nine months ended June 30, 2019, compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2018. The average rate of total interest-bearing liabilities increased 46 basis points to 1.86 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2019, from 1.40 percent for the nine months ended June 30, 2018. At the same time, the average balance of total interest-bearing liabilities increased by $52.1 million. This increase primarily reflects an increase in the average balance of deposits of $62.7 million and a decrease in the average balance of borrowings of $10.6 million. The increase in the average balance of deposits consisted primarily of a $66.7 million increase in the average balance of other interest-bearing deposit accounts, a $194,000 increase in the average balance of certificates of deposit accounts, an $80,000 increase in the average balance of savings deposits, and a $4.3 million decrease in the average balance of money market accounts.

Other Income

Other income decreased $261,000, or 36.5 percent, during the third fiscal quarter of 2019 compared with the same period in 2018. The decrease in total other income was due to a $278,000 decrease in service charges and other fees, a $10,000 decrease in rental income, and a $3,000 decrease in net gains on sale of loans, partially offset by a $27,000 gain on sale of investments and a $3,000 increase in earnings on bank-owned life insurance. The decrease in service charges and other fees during the three months ended June 30, 2019 is primarily due to lower net swap fees through the Bank’s commercial loan hedging program.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2019, other income decreased $834,000 compared to the same period in 2018. This decrease was primarily a result of a $1.2 million gain recorded in 2018 on the sale of the Exton, Pennsylvania branch location. Additionally, there was a $59,000 decrease in net gains on sale of loans and a $12,000 decrease in rental income, partially offset by an increase of $392,000 in service charges, a $27,000 gain on sale of investments and a $4,000 increase in earnings on bank-owned life insurance. The non-proportional increase in service charges and other fees during the nine months ended June 30, 2019 is primarily due to the recognition of approximately $708,000 of net swap fees through the Bank’s commercial loan hedging program during the first fiscal quarter of 2019. The primary benefit of the loan hedging program is to manage the interest rate risk on long term fixed rate loans while allowing Malvern to compete in the market and offer competitive financing to our clients.

Other Expense

Total other expense for the three months ended June 30, 2019 decreased $293,000, or 6.1 percent, when compared to the three months ended June 30, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to a $683,000 decrease in professional fees due to lower legal expense, a $17,000 decrease in occupancy expense, a $15,000 decrease in data processing expense, partially offset by a $199,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits, a $191,000 increase in other operating expense, a $30,000 increase in net other real estate owned expense, and a $2,000 increase in federal deposit insurance premium. The increase in salaries and employee benefits during the three-month period ended June 30, 2019 reflects normal increases to salary and benefits and three strategic hires to support overall franchise growth consistent with the business plan. The increase in other operating expenses during the three-month period ended June 30, 2019 was primarily due to the Pennsylvania shares tax related to the Bank’s new standing as a National Association. The Bank converted its charter in February 2018.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2019, total other expense decreased $332,000, or 2.5 percent, compared to the same period in 2018. The decrease primarily reflected a $967,000 decrease in professional fees, a $55,000 decrease in data processing expense, $49,000 decrease in occupancy expense, a $32,000 decrease in advertising expense, and a $7,000 decrease in the federal deposit insurance premium. These decreases were offset by a $429,000 increase in salaries and employee benefits, a $270,000 increase in other operating expenses and a $79,000 increase in net other real estate owned expense. The decrease in professional fees during the nine-month period ended June 30, 2019 was primarily due to lower legal expense. The increase in salaries and employee benefits during the three-month period ended June 30, 2019 reflects normal increases to salary and benefits and three strategic hires to support overall franchise growth consistent with the business plan. The increase in other operating expenses during the nine-month period ended June 30, 2019 was primarily due to the Pennsylvania shares tax related to the Bank’s new standing as a National Association.

Income Taxes

The Company recorded $706,000 in income tax expense during the three months ended June 30, 2019 compared to $69,000 in income tax expense during the three months ended June 30, 2018. The effective tax rates for the Company for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were 21.0 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively. For the nine months ended June 30, 2019, income tax expense decreased $2.3 million, or 58.1 percent, to $1.7 million from $3.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018. The effective tax rates for the Company for the nine months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were 19.9 percent and 45.8 percent, respectively.

In the first fiscal quarter of 2018, the Company revised its annual effective rate to reflect a change in the federal statutory rate from 34 percent to 21 percent, resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was enacted on December 22, 2017.

Statement of Condition Highlights at June 30, 2019

• Gross loans were $1.0 billion at June 30, 2019, increasing $109.0 million, or 12.0 percent, from September 30, 2018.

• Total assets stood at $1.3 billion at June 30, 2019, increasing $231.9 million, or 22.4 percent, compared to September 30, 2018.

• Deposits totaled $957.2 million at June 30, 2019, an increase of $183.0 million, or 23.6 percent, compared to September 30, 2018.

• Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances totaled $133.0 million at June 30, 2019, an increase from $118.0 million at September 30, 2018.

• The Bank had gross originations of $60.2 million during the quarter ended June 30, 2019, with net portfolio growth of $12.9 million. Gross loan originations during the quarter consisted of $28.4 million in commercial loans, $20.3 million in residential mortgage loans, $7.3 million in construction and development loans, and $4.2 million in consumer loans.

• Non-performing assets (“NPAs”) were 0.65 percent of total assets at June 30, 2019, compared to 0.30 percent at September 30, 2018. Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total non-performing loans was 418.1 percent at June 30, 2019, compared to 294.7 percent at September 30, 2018.
• Excluding one other real estate owned property of $5.8 million; NPAs were 0.19 percent of total assets at June 30, 2019.
• The Company’s ratio of shareholders’ equity to total assets was 11.03 percent at June 30, 2019, compared to 10.72 percent at September 30, 2018.
• Book value per common share amounted to $17.98 at June 30, 2019, compared to $16.84 at September 30, 2018.
• The efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP measure, was 56.9 percent at June 30, 2019, compared to 58.3 percent at September 30, 2018. 

Loans

Total net loans amounted to $1.0 billion at June 30, 2019 compared to $902.1 million at September 30, 2018, for a net increase of $107.8 million or 12.0 percent. The allowance for loan losses amounted to $10.1 million and $9.0 million at June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively. Average loans during the third fiscal quarter of 2019 totaled $1.0 billion as compared to $864.3 million during the third fiscal quarter of 2018, representing a 16.9 percent increase.

At the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2019, the loan portfolio remained weighted toward two primary components: commercial and the core residential portfolio, with commercial loans accounting for 70.2 percent and single-family residential real estate loans accounting for 21.2 percent of the loan portfolio. Construction and development loans amounted to 5.0 percent and consumer loans represented 3.6 percent of the loan portfolio at such date. The increase in the loan portfolio at June 30, 2019 compared to September 30, 2018, primarily reflected an increase of $84.6 million in commercial loans, an increase of $18.9 million in residential mortgage loans, a $4.6 million increase in construction and development loans, and an $886,000 increase in consumer loans.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2019, the Company originated total new loan volume of $60.2 million, which was offset by loan payoffs of $24.0 million, prepayments totaling $13.7 million, amortization of $7.1 million, and participations of $2.5 million.

Subsequent to quarter-end, in July 2019 the Company completed the sale of one commercial real estate loan classified as held for sale. The loan had an aggregate book balance of $367,000 and was sold at a gain of approximately $17,000. As a result, our consolidated statement of financial condition at June 30, 2019 includes $367,000 of one commercial real estate loan as held for sale. As such it is not considered to be included in our loan portfolio at June 30, 2019. Net proceeds from the sale amounted to $384,000 after deducting amounts due for outstanding liens, related expenses and applicable transfer fees. This transaction resulted in a decrease of approximately $17,000 through the provision for loan loss during the third quarter of fiscal 2019.

At June 30, 2019, the Company had $140.3 million in overall undisbursed loan commitments, which consisted primarily of unused commercial lines of credit, home equity lines of credit and available usage from active construction facilities. The Company's current "Approved, Accepted but Unfunded" pipeline at June 30, 2019 included approximately $81.7 million in commercial and construction loans and $21.4 million in residential mortgage loans expected to fund over the following quarter.

Asset Quality

Non-accrual loans, all of which were making payments at June 30, 2019, were $2.2 million at June 30, 2019, a decrease of $498,000, or 18.5 percent, as compared to $2.7 million at September 30, 2018. The decrease in non-accrual loans was primarily due to the transfer of one commercial real estate loan with an aggregate book balance of $367,000 to loans held for sale (as noted above, such loan sale was subsequently completed in July 2019). The portfolio of non-accrual loans at June 30, 2019 was comprised of fourteen residential real estate loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of approximately $1.8 million, and thirteen consumer loans with an aggregate outstanding balance of approximately $339,000.

At June 30, 2019, non-performing assets totaled $8.2 million, or 0.65 percent of total assets, as compared with $3.1 million, or 0.30 percent of total assets, at September 30, 2018. The increase in non-performing assets at June 30, 2019 compared to September 30, 2018 was primarily due to the transfer to Other Real Estate Owned (“OREO”), of one commercial real estate loan in the amount of $5.8 million.

OREO was $5.8 million at June 30, 2019 and zero at September 30, 2018, as previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on December 14, 2018. Excluding the OREO property of $5.8 million, NPAs totaled $2.4 million, or 0.19 percent of total assets at June 30, 2019.

The allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2019 amounted to approximately $10.1 million, or 0.99 percent of total loans, compared to $9.0 million, or 0.99 percent of total loans, at September 30, 2018. The Company had a $56,000 provision for loan losses during the quarter ended June 30, 2019 compared to $125,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

Capital

At June 30, 2019, our total shareholders' equity amounted to $139.7 million, or 11.03 percent of total assets, compared to $110.8 million, or 10.72 percent of total assets at September 30, 2018. At June 30, 2019, the Bank’s common equity tier 1 ratio was 14.98 percent, tier 1 leverage ratio was 12.36 percent, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 14.98 percent and the total risk-based capital ratio was 16.00 percent. At September 30, 2018, the Bank’s common equity tier 1 ratio was 15.09 percent, tier 1 leverage ratio was 12.71 percent, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 15.09 percent and the total risk-based capital ratio was 16.13 percent. At June 30, 2019, the Bank was in compliance with all applicable regulatory capital requirements.

On March 14, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase plan, under which the Company is authorized to repurchase up to 194,516 shares, or approximately 2.5 percent of the Company’s current outstanding common stock. This authority extends through March 31, 2020 and may be exercised from time to time and in such amounts as market conditions warrant. The repurchases may be made on the open market, in block trades or otherwise. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. During the three and nine months ended June 30, 2019, the Company purchased 16,699 shares and 16,863 shares of its common stock in the open market under the repurchase plan at an average cost of $19.94 per share and $19.95 per share, respectively. At June 30, 2019, the Company had 177,653 shares remaining in the repurchase plan.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company's management believes that the supplemental non-GAAP information provided in this press release is utilized by market analysts and others to evaluate a company's financial condition and, therefore, that such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures presented by other companies.

About Malvern Bancorp, Inc.

Malvern Bancorp, Inc. is the holding company for Malvern Bank, National Association, an institution that was originally organized in 1887 as a federally-chartered savings bank. Malvern Bank, National Association now serves as one of the oldest banks headquartered on the Philadelphia Main Line. For more than a century, Malvern Bank has been committed to helping people build prosperous communities as a trusted financial partner, forging lasting relationships through teamwork, respect and integrity.

Malvern Bank conducts business from its headquarters in Paoli, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, and through its nine other banking locations in Chester, Delaware and Bucks counties, Pennsylvania, Palm Beach, Florida, and Morristown, New Jersey, its New Jersey regional headquarters. The Bank also operates a representative office in Montchanin, Delaware and a Private Banking Office in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Its primary market niche is providing personalized service to its client base.

Malvern Bank, through its Private Banking division and a strategic partnership with Bell Rock Capital in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, provides personalized wealth management and advisory services to high net worth individuals and families. These services include banking, liquidity management, investment services, 401(k) accounts and planning, custody, tailored lending, wealth planning, trust and fiduciary services, family wealth advisory services and philanthropic advisory services. The Bank offers insurance services though Malvern Insurance Associates, LLC, which provides clients a rich array of financial services, including commercial and personal insurance and commercial and personal lending.

For further information regarding Malvern Bancorp, Inc., please visit our web site at http://ir.malvernbancorp.com. For information regarding Malvern Bank, National Association, please visit our web site at http://www.mymalvernbank.com.