Waterstone Financial, Inc. Announces Results of Operations for the Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2021

WAUWATOSA, Wis., Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBF), holding company for WaterStone Bank, reported net income of $12.6 million, or $0.53 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to $27.8 million, or $1.17 per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Net income per diluted share was $2.96 for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to net income per diluted share of $3.30 for the year ended December 31, 2020.

“We achieved another quarter of strong financial results due to the continued dedication and efforts of our employees,” said Douglas Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of Waterstone Financial, Inc. “We continue to execute and build a stronger financial position. Given the performance over the past two years, we were excited to announce a new 3.5 million share repurchase program and declare a $0.50 special dividend during the quarter as we continue to deliver for our valued shareholders.”

Highlights of the Quarter Ended December 31, 2021

Waterstone Financial, Inc. (Consolidated)

  • Consolidated net income of Waterstone Financial, Inc. totaled $12.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared to $27.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Consolidated return on average assets was 2.22% for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to 4.96% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Consolidated return on average equity was 11.14% for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 and 27.11% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Dividends declared during the quarter ended December 31, 2021 totaled $0.70 per common share.
  • We authorized a new share repurchase program, under which we will seek to repurchase up to 3.5 million shares, representing approximately 14.1% of outstanding shares.
  • We repurchased approximately 264,000 shares at a cost of $5.5 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2021.

Community Banking Segment

  • Pre-tax income totaled $8.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, which represents a $338,000, or 3.9%, decrease compared to $8.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Net interest income totaled $13.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, which represents a $1.3 million, or 9.3%, decrease compared to $14.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Average loans held for investment totaled $1.21 billion during the quarter ended December 31, 2021, which represents a decrease of $191.8 million, or 13.7%, compared to $1.40 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Average loans held for investment decreased $44.4 million compared to $1.26 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 as residential real estate loans continued to prepay at an accelerated rate.
  • Net interest margin decreased 26 basis points to 2.47% for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to 2.73% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020, which was a result of lower rates and average balance on loans and a higher average interest earnings cash balance within the debt securities, federal funds sold and short term investments category. Net interest margin decreased 21 basis points compared to 2.68% for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, driven by a decrease in average loan balance and a higher average cash balance.
  • The segment had a negative provision for loan losses of $1.5M for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to no provision for loan losses for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Net recoveries totaled $458,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, as one significant loan recovery payment was received during the quarter, compared to net charge-offs of $51,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • The efficiency ratio was 53.02% for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared to 46.15% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Average deposits (excluding escrow accounts) totaled $1.25 billion during the quarter ended December 31, 2021, an increase of $65.5 million, or 5.6%, compared to $1.18 billion during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Average deposits decreased $9.9 million, or 3.2% annualized compared to the $1.26 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.
  • Nonperforming assets as percentage of total assets was 0.26% at December 31, 2021, 0.18% at September 30, 2021, and 0.27% at December 31, 2020.
  • Past due loans as percentage of total loans was 0.59% at December 31, 2021, 0.92% at September 30, 2021, and 0.57% at December 31, 2020.
  • PPP loans totaled $1.8 million as of December 31, 2021. The average balance for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 was $2.7 million. For the quarter ended December 31, 2021, PPP loan interest income recognized was approximately $7,000 and the amortization of fee income was approximately $101,000.
  • The Company held approximately $3.3 million in loans, representing 0.3% of the total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2021, which had been modified as either a deferment of principal or principal and interest since the beginning of the pandemic. Of the $3.3 million in loans, $405,000 qualify as modifications under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES Act”). The remaining $2.9 million is composed of three loan relationships that are classified as troubled debt restructurings.

Mortgage Banking Segment

  • Pre-tax income totaled $7.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared to $28.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Loan originations decreased $289.2 million, or 22.6%, to $993.1 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared to $1.28 billion during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. Origination volume relative to purchase activity accounted for 73.8% of originations for the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to 59.2% of total originations for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Mortgage banking non-interest income decreased $27.8 million, or 40.6%, to $40.7 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared to $68.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. During the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Company sold mortgage servicing rights related to $975.9 million in loans receivable and with a book value of $6.4 million for $7.0 million resulting in a gain on sale of $600,000. There was no comparable sale during the quarter ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the Company maintained servicing rights related to $160.8 million in loans previously sold to third parties.
  • Gross margin on loans sold decreased to 4.18% for the quarter ended December 31, 2021, compared to 5.40% for the quarter ended December 31, 2020.
  • Total compensation, payroll taxes and other employee benefits decreased $5.5 million, or 16.4%, to $27.9 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to $33.3 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. The decrease primarily related to decreased commission expense and branch manager compensation driven by decreased loan origination volume and branch profitability as gross margins decreased.
  • Other noninterest expense decreased $665,000 to $1.4 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2021 compared to $2.1 million during the quarter ended December 31, 2020. The decrease related to a decrease in the amortization expense on mortgage servicing rights due to the bulk sale of mortgage servicing rights during 2021 and a reduced provision for loan sale losses as origination volumes decreased.

Recent Developments:

COVID-19 Pandemic and the CARES Act

The CARES Act, signed into law at the end of March 2020, allowed for a temporary delay in the adoption of accounting guidance under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 326, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“CECL”) until the earlier of December 31, 2020 or the 60th day after the end of the COVID-19 national emergency. During the quarter ended June 30, 2020, pursuant to the CARES Act and guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), we elected to delay adoption of CECL. On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 was signed into law. Among other provisions, this Act extended the temporary delay on the adoption of CECL until January 1, 2022. We have elected to continue to delay adoption of CECL. As a result, our financial statements for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2021 include an allowance for loan losses that was prepared under the existing incurred loss methodology.

About Waterstone Financial, Inc.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank. WaterStone Bank was established in 1921 and offers a full suite of personal and business banking products. The Bank has branches in Wauwatosa/State St, Brookfield, Fox Point/North Shore, Franklin/Hales Corners, Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Greenfield/Loomis Rd, Milwaukee/Oklahoma Ave, Oak Creek/27th St, Oak Creek/Howell Ave, Oconomowoc/Lake Country, Pewaukee, Waukesha, West Allis/Greenfield Ave, and West Allis/National Ave, Wisconsin. WaterStone Bank is the parent company to Waterstone Mortgage, which has the ability to lend in 48 states. For more information about WaterStone Bank, go to http://www.wsbonline.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements or information that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial and operating activities and results that are preceded by, followed by, or that include words such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or “believes.” Any such statements are based upon current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include changes in interest rates; demand for products and services; the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors; changes in banking regulation or actions by bank regulators; changes in tax laws; the impact of technological advances; governmental and regulatory policy changes; the outcomes of contingencies; trends in customer behavior as well as their ability to repay loans; changes in local real estate values; changes in the national and local economies, including significant disruption to financial market and other economic activity caused by the outbreak of COVID-19; and other factors, including risk factors referenced in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Waterstone’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be described from time to time in Waterstone’s subsequent SEC filings, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect only Waterstone’s belief as of the date of this press release.

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME  
(Unaudited)  
  For The Three Months Ended December 31, For The Year Ended December 31,  
    2021     2020     2021     2020    
  (In Thousands, except per share amounts)  
Interest income:          
Loans $ 15,152   $ 18,229   $ 64,366   $ 72,633    
Mortgage-related securities   506     528     1,954     2,488    
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short-term investments   926     870     3,563     3,363    
Total interest income   16,584     19,627     69,883     78,484    
Interest expense:          
Deposits   878     2,605     4,420     14,365    
Borrowings   2,534     2,706     9,948     10,619    
Total interest expense   3,412     5,311     14,368     24,984    
Net interest income   13,172     14,316     55,515     53,500    
Provision (credit) for loan losses   (1,470 )   30     (3,990 )   6,340    
Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses   14,642     14,286     59,505     47,160    
Noninterest income:          
Service charges on loans and deposits   842     1,078     3,325     4,462    
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance   318     318     1,615     1,905    
Mortgage banking income   40,448     66,953     191,035     233,245    
Other   408     1,537     7,220     4,405    
Total noninterest income   42,016     69,886     203,195     244,017    
Noninterest expenses:          
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits   32,837     38,351     135,115     139,046    
Occupancy, office furniture, and equipment   2,266     2,479     9,612     10,223    
Advertising   958     1,066     3,528     3,691    
Data processing   1,079     918     3,950     3,941    
Communications   321     335     1,309     1,329    
Professional fees   471     471     1,275     8,118    
Real estate owned   14     (63 )   3     (8 )  
Loan processing expense   940     1,026     4,610     4,646    
Other   2,088     2,580     11,192     12,075    
Total noninterest expenses   40,974     47,163     170,594     183,061    
Income before income taxes   15,684     37,009     92,106     108,116    
Income tax expense   3,131     9,174     21,315     26,971    
Net income $ 12,553   $ 27,835   $ 70,791   $ 81,145    
Income per share:          
Basic $ 0.53   $ 1.17   $ 2.98   $ 3.32    
Diluted $ 0.53   $ 1.17   $ 2.96   $ 3.30    
Weighted average shares outstanding:          
Basic   23,598     23,703     23,741     24,464    
Diluted   23,802     23,877     23,931     24,607    

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION  
  December 31, December 31,  
  2021 2020  
  (Unaudited)    
Assets (In Thousands, except per share amounts)  
Cash $ 343,016   $ 56,190    
Federal funds sold   13,981     18,847    
Interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions and other short term investments   19,725     19,730    
Cash and cash equivalents   376,722     94,767    
Securities available for sale (at fair value)   179,016     159,619    
Loans held for sale (at fair value)   312,738     402,003    
Loans receivable   1,205,785     1,375,137    
Less: Allowance for loan losses   15,778     18,823    
Loans receivable, net   1,190,007     1,356,314    
       
Office properties and equipment, net   22,273     23,722    
Federal Home Loan Bank stock (at cost)   24,438     26,720    
Cash surrender value of life insurance   65,368     63,573    
Real estate owned, net   148     322    
Prepaid expenses and other assets   45,148     57,547    
Total assets $ 2,215,858   $ 2,184,587    
       
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity      
Liabilities:      
Demand deposits $ 214,409   $ 188,225    
Money market and savings deposits   392,314     295,317    
Time deposits   626,663     701,328    
Total deposits   1,233,386     1,184,870    
       
Borrowings   477,127     508,074    
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes   4,094     3,522    
Other liabilities   68,478     75,003    
Total liabilities   1,783,085     1,771,469    
       
Shareholders’ equity:      
Preferred stock          
Common stock   248     251    
Additional paid-in capital   174,505     180,684    
Retained earnings   273,398     245,287    
Unearned ESOP shares   (14,243 )   (15,430 )  
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, net of taxes   (1,135 )   2,326    
Total shareholders’ equity   432,773     413,118    
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,215,858   $ 2,184,587    
       
Share Information      
Shares outstanding   24,795     25,088    
Book value per share $ 17.45   $ 16.47    
Closing market price $ 21.86   $ 18.82    
Price to book ratio   125.27 %   114.27 %  

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
           
  At or For the Three Months Ended
  December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31, December 31,
  2021 2021 2021 2021 2020
  (Dollars in Thousands, except per share amounts)
Condensed Results of Operations:          
Net interest income $ 13,172   $ 14,114   $ 14,277   $ 13,952   $ 14,316  
Provision (credit) for loan losses   (1,470 )   (700 )   (750 )   (1,070 )   30  
Total noninterest income   42,016     52,936     52,044     56,199     69,886  
Total noninterest expense   40,974     43,323     43,297     43,000     47,163  
Income before income taxes   15,684     24,427     23,774     28,221     37,009  
Income tax expense   3,131     5,427     5,880     6,877     9,174  
Net income $ 12,553   $ 19,000   $ 17,894   $ 21,344   $ 27,835  
Income per share – basic $ 0.53   $ 0.80   $ 0.75   $ 0.90   $ 1.17  
Income per share – diluted $ 0.53   $ 0.79   $ 0.74   $ 0.89   $ 1.17  
Dividends declared per share $ 0.70   $ 0.20   $ 0.70   $ 0.20   $ 0.50  
           
Performance Ratios (annualized):          
Return on average assets – QTD   2.22 %   3.38 %   3.25 %   3.99 %   4.96 %
Return on average equity – QTD   11.14 %   17.25 %   16.49 %   20.49 %   27.11 %
Net interest margin – QTD   2.47 %   2.68 %   2.78 %   2.80 %   2.73 %
           
Return on average assets – YTD   3.20 %   3.54 %   3.62 %   3.99 %   3.77 %
Return on average equity – YTD   16.38 %   18.08 %   18.49 %   20.49 %   20.18 %
Net interest margin – YTD   2.68 %   2.75 %   2.79 %   2.80 %   2.67 %
           
Asset Quality Ratios:          
Past due loans to total loans   0.59 %   0.92 %   0.53 %   0.52 %   0.57 %
Nonaccrual loans to total loans   0.46 %   0.32 %   0.34 %   0.31 %   0.40 %
Nonperforming assets to total assets   0.26 %   0.18 %   0.20 %   0.20 %   0.27 %
Allowance for loan losses to loans receivable   1.31 %   1.37 %   1.34 %   1.33 %   1.37 %

WATERSTONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF QUARTERLY AVERAGE BALANCES AND YIELD/COSTS
(Unaudited)
           
  At or For the Three Months Ended
  December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31, December 31,
  2021 2021 2021 2021 2020
Average balances (Dollars in Thousands)
Interest-earning assets          
Loans receivable and held for sale $ 1,517,984   $ 1,573,194   $ 1,655,078   $ 1,657,260   $ 1,775,455  
Mortgage related securities   119,709     108,743     100,056     90,457     91,199  
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short term investments   475,574     409,559     308,105     273,929     217,356  
    Total interest-earning assets   2,113,267     2,091,496     2,063,239     2,021,646     2,084,010  
Noninterest-earning assets   131,703     137,454     143,375     147,781     147,573  
    Total assets $ 2,244,970   $ 2,228,950   $ 2,206,614   $ 2,169,427   $ 2,231,583  
           
Interest-bearing liabilities          
Demand accounts $ 70,762   $ 68,478   $ 63,610   $ 55,552   $ 53,771  
Money market, savings, and escrow accounts   398,210     391,599     350,270     314,418     304,467  
Certificates of deposit   643,546     663,343     690,196     705,712     726,132  
    Total interest-bearing deposits   1,112,518     1,123,420     1,104,076     1,075,682     1,084,370  
Borrowings   481,971     475,000     480,054     482,665     546,070  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   1,594,489     1,598,420     1,584,130     1,558,347     1,630,440  
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits   153,303     153,436     141,648     138,446     128,665  
Noninterest-bearing liabilities   49,982     40,148     45,658     50,188     64,001  
    Total liabilities   1,797,774     1,792,004     1,771,436     1,746,981     1,823,106  
Equity   447,196     436,946     435,178     422,446     408,477  
    Total liabilities and equity $ 2,244,970   $ 2,228,950   $ 2,206,614   $ 2,169,427   $ 2,231,583  
           
Average Yield/Costs (annualized)          
Loans receivable and held for sale   3.96 %   4.07 %   3.99 %   4.06 %   4.08 %
Mortgage related securities   1.68 %   1.72 %   1.95 %   2.20 %   2.30 %
Debt securities, federal funds sold and short term investments   0.77 %   0.88 %   1.12 %   1.30 %   1.59 %
    Total interest-earning assets   3.11 %   3.32 %   3.47 %   3.60 %   3.75 %
           
Demand accounts   0.08 %   0.08 %   0.08 %   0.07 %   0.07 %
Money market and savings accounts   0.22 %   0.24 %   0.23 %   0.32 %   0.53 %
Certificates of deposit   0.40 %   0.42 %   0.50 %   0.72 %   1.20 %
    Total interest-bearing deposits   0.31 %   0.33 %   0.39 %   0.57 %   0.96 %
Borrowings   2.09 %   2.04 %   2.06 %   2.10 %   1.97 %
    Total interest-bearing liabilities   0.85 %   0.84 %   0.90 %   1.05 %   1.30 %

COMMUNITY BANKING SEGMENT
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
           
  At or For the Three Months Ended
  December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31, December 31,
  2021 2021 2021 2021 2020
  (Dollars in Thousands)
Condensed Results of Operations:          
Net interest income $ 13,197   $ 14,090   $ 14,517   $ 14,247   $ 14,546  
Provision (credit) for loan losses   (1,500 )   (750 )   (750 )   (1,100 )    
Total noninterest income   1,459     1,726     1,630     1,243     1,655  
Noninterest expenses:          
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits   5,085     5,360     4,874     4,975     5,159  
Occupancy, office furniture and equipment   960     909     887     1,025     934  
Advertising   278     233     260     209     244  
Data processing   531     531     466     511     511  
Communications   100     122     86     119     110  
Professional fees   151     130     198     194     5  
Real estate owned   14     1         (12 )   (63 )
Loan processing expense                    
Other   651     422     461     440     577  
Total noninterest expense   7,770     7,708     7,232     7,461     7,477  
Income before income taxes   8,386     8,858     9,665     9,129     8,724  
Income tax expense   1,690     2,092     2,128     1,786     1,926  
Net income $ 6,696   $ 6,766   $ 7,537   $ 7,343   $ 6,798  
           
Efficiency ratio – QTD   53.02 %   48.74 %   44.79 %   48.17 %   46.15 %
Efficiency ratio – YTD   48.58 %   47.21 %   46.44 %   48.17 %   48.71 %

        

MORTGAGE BANKING SEGMENT
SUMMARY OF KEY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
(Unaudited)
           
  At or For the Three Months Ended
  December 31, September 30, June 30, March 31, December 31,
  2021 2021 2021 2021 2020
  (Dollars in Thousands)
Condensed Results of Operations:          
Net interest income (loss) $ (49 ) $ (2 ) $ (251 ) $ (350 ) $ (223 )
Provision for loan losses   30     50         30     30  
Total noninterest income   40,692     51,290     50,556     55,035     68,500  
Noninterest expenses:          
Compensation, payroll taxes, and other employee benefits   27,866     28,981     29,170     29,262     33,347  
Occupancy, office furniture and equipment   1,306     1,579     1,406     1,540     1,545  
Advertising   680     602     651     615     822  
Data processing   542     450     443     454     402  
Communications   221     209     240     212     225  
Professional fees   306     421     361     (524 )   441  
Real estate owned                    
Loan processing expense   940     1,135     1,200     1,335     1,026  
Other   1,445     2,270     2,678     2,681     2,110  
Total noninterest expense   33,306     35,647     36,149     35,575     39,918  
Income before income taxes   7,307     15,591     14,156     19,080     28,329  
Income tax expense   1,443     3,341     3,761     5,096     7,252  
Net income $ 5,864   $ 12,250   $ 10,395   $ 13,984   $ 21,077  
           
Efficiency ratio – QTD   81.95 %   69.50 %   71.86 %   65.05 %   58.46 %
Efficiency ratio – YTD   71.44 %   68.71 %   68.32 %   65.05 %   65.20 %
           
Loan originations $ 993,113   $ 1,055,500   $ 1,065,161   $ 1,115,091   $ 1,282,321  
Purchase   73.8 %   73.8 %   75.4 %   56.1 %   59.2 %
Refinance   26.2 %   26.2 %   24.6 %   43.9 %   40.8 %
Gross margin on loans sold(1)   4.18 %   4.54 %   4.81 %   4.86 %   5.40 %
(1) – Gross margin on loans sold equals mortgage banking income (excluding the change in interest rate lock value) divided by total loan originations
           

Contact: Mark R. Gerke
Chief Financial Officer
414-459-4012
[email protected]