NEW YORK, July 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Amalgamated Bank (Nasdaq: AMAL) today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.

Second Quarter 2020 Highlights

• Net income of $10.4 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to $9.5 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2019
• Core net income (non-GAAP)¹ of $10.6 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to $9.2 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2019
• Deposit growth of $793.8 million, or 62.9% annualized, to approximately $5.9 billion compared to a balance of $5.1 billion on March 31, 2020
• Loan growth of $123.0 million, or 14.1% annualized, from a balance of $3.5 billion on March 31, 2020
• PACE assessment growth of $68.1 million, or 106.7% annualized, from a balance of $255.3 million on March 31, 2020
• Cost of deposits was 0.20%, compared to 0.33% for the first quarter of 2020 and 0.34% for the second quarter of 2019
• Net interest margin was 3.10%, compared to 3.46% for the first quarter of 2020 and 3.66% for the second quarter of 2019
• Common Equity Tier 1, Total Risk-Based, and Tier 1 Leverage capital ratios were 12.29%, 13.54%, and 7.69%, respectively, at June 30, 2020
• Total nonperforming assets were $74.3 million or 1.15% of total assets as of June 30, 2020, compared to $65.6 million or 1.14% of total assets at March 31, 2020 and $73.9 million, or 1.50% of total assets at June 30, 2019

Keith Mestrich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Amalgamated Bank, commented, “For almost 100 years, Amalgamated Bank has stood with companies, organizations and individuals that have led the charge to make a more just and sustainable world. Social responsibility is embedded in Amalgamated’s history, policies, products, programs, operations and culture. Now more than ever, we need to act boldly in addressing the racism embedded in our society, including the private sector. As a result, and after long conversations both inside and outside of the Bank, we have outlined a series of near-term commitments and actions intended to drive tangible results over time. It will take time to drive meaningful change and we are committed to keeping this at the forefront of our work.”

Mr. Mestrich, continued, “We have always believed that a Bank can do good in the world while also delivering profitable growth. Our second quarter results not only validate this view but further emphasize the value that we provide to our core customer base as can be seen in our average deposit growth of $606 million during the quarter, or 50.5% on an annualized basis. Additionally, we have nearly doubled our West Coast deposits since acquiring New Resource two years ago. On the asset side of the balance sheet, we continue to grow our PACE portfolio, having effectively added $68 million in PACE securities during the quarter. While the pandemic has negatively affected the cities where we have physical locations, our customer base has a geographic diversity that, along with our conservative underwriting, should benefit the performance of our loan portfolio. Lastly, the pandemic has allowed the Bank to benefit from higher levels of digital adoption, effectively obliging our customers to utilize our technology when the ability for in-person banking was not an option. This successful transition to online banking allowed us to close several of the Bank’s branches earlier than anticipated. We expect to realize a one-time, non-core expense increase of approximately $6 million in the third quarter as we exit the branches, however, moving forward, beginning in 2021, our non-interest expense is expected to benefit by approximately $4 million annually.”

COVID-19 Update

Amalgamated’s primary concern during the COVID-19 pandemic is for the health and wellbeing of the Company’s employees, customers, and communities. Our employees continue to manage from a work from home environment, and our operations continue to perform well, effectively transitioning many customers to our digital platform, allowing for further consolidation of our branch network.

Results of Operations, Quarter Ended June 30, 2020

Net income for the second quarter of 2020 was $10.4 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to $9.5 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2020 and $11.2 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2019. The $0.8 million decrease in net income for the second quarter of 2020, compared to the second quarter of 2019, was primarily due to a $6.1 million increase in provision for loan losses, partially offset by a $2.6 million increase in net interest income and a $2.3 million increase in non-interest income.

Core net income (non-GAAP) for the second quarter of 2020 was $10.6 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, compared to $9.2 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2020 and $11.6 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2019. Core net income for the second quarter of 2020 excludes $0.5 million of non-interest income gains on the sale of securities, $0.7 million in expense related to the closure of six branches, and other adjustments, including the tax effect of such adjustments.

Net interest income was $44.4 million for the second quarter of 2020, compared to $44.7 million for the first quarter of 2020 and $41.9 million for the second quarter of 2019. The $2.5 million year-over-year increase was primarily attributable to a decrease in interest expense due to a decrease in borrowings and deposit rate paid, and an increase in average securities and loans of $509.5 million and $383.9 million, respectively with lower yields. These impacts were partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing deposits of $340.4 million.

Net interest margin was 3.10% for the second quarter of 2020, a decrease of 36 basis points from 3.46% in the first quarter of 2020, and a decrease of 56 basis points from 3.66% in the second quarter of 2019. The accretion of the loan mark from the loans we acquired in our New Resource Bank acquisition contributed three basis points to our net interest margin in the second quarter of 2020, compared to four and six basis points in the first quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2019, respectively. Prepayment penalties earned through loan income contributed $0.2 million, or two basis points, to our net interest margin in the second quarter of 2020, compared to six and three basis points in the first quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2019, respectively.

Provisions for loan loss expense totaled $8.2 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to $8.6 million in the first quarter of 2020 and $2.1 million for the second quarter of 2019. The provision expense in the second quarter of 2020 was primarily driven by a $3.2 million increase in allowance related to payment deferrals in our loan portfolio, a $2.7 million increase in specific reserves related to one hotel which was downgraded to non-accrual, and $1.5 million related to downgrades to the risk rating of loans, primarily construction loans.

Non-interest income was $8.7 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to $9.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, and $6.3 million in the second quarter of 2019. The $2.3 million increase in the second quarter of 2020, compared to the like period in 2019, was primarily due to $1.3 million tax credit on an equity investment in a solar project, a $0.5 million gain on the sale of securities compared to a loss of $0.4 million in the comparable quarter of 2019, and a $0.7 million increase in Bank-owned life insurance income due to the receipt of a death benefit payout. These increases were partially offset by a $0.5 million decrease in Trust Department fees primarily related to the decrease in revenue from a real estate fund which is liquidating assets.

Non-interest expense was $31.1 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to $32.3 million in the first quarter of 2020, and $31.0 million in the second quarter of 2019. Expenses in the second quarter of 2020 were relatively unchanged compared to the same period in 2019. The $1.2 million decrease in the second quarter of 2020 compared to the linked quarter was primarily due to a $1.3 million decrease in branch closure expense in occupancy and depreciation and a $1.0 million decrease in professional fees from external audit, subadvisors and consultants. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in data processing and other expenses of $0.7 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Our provision for income tax expense was $3.4 million for the second quarter of 2020, compared to a provision of $3.4 million for the first quarter of 2020 and a provision of $3.9 million for the second quarter of 2019. Our effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2020 was 24.9%, compared to 26.3% for the first quarter of 2020 and 25.8% for the second quarter of 2019.

Results of Operations, Six Months Ended June 30, 2020

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2020 of $19.9 million, or $0.64 per diluted share, compared to $22.0 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, for same period in 2019. The $2.1 million decrease was primarily due to a $12.5 million increase in the provision for loan losses and a $0.9 million increase in non-interest expense, partially offset by a $6.5 million increase in net interest income and a $4.0 million increase in non-interest income.

Core net income (non-GAAP) for the six months ended June 30, 2020 of $19.7 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared to $22.3 million or $0.69 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Core net income for the first six months of 2020 exclude branch closure expenses and the gain on sale of a closed branch, gains on the sale of securities, severance, and the tax effect of such adjustments.

Net interest income was $89.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, an increase of $6.5 million from the same period in 2019. This increase was primarily attributable to a decrease in interest expense due to a decrease in borrowings and deposit rate paid, and an increase in average securities and loans of $433.1 million and $292.9 million, respectively with lower yields. These impacts were partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing deposits of $273.4 million.

Provisions for loan loss expense totaled $16.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, an increase of $12.5 million compared to $4.3 million in the same period of 2019. The provision expense in the six months ended June 30, 2020 was primarily driven by a $6.2 million increase in COVID-19 qualitative factors tied to economic factors and payment deferrals in our loan portfolio, a $6.1 million increase in specific reserves related to indirect C&I and hotel loans, and other factors.

Non-interest income was $17.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $13.8 million for the same period in 2019. The $4.0 million increase for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to the like period in 2019, was primarily due to a $1.4 million gain on the sale of a closed branch included in other non-interest income, a $1.3 million tax credit on an equity investment in a solar project, a $1.0 million gain on the sale of securities, and a $0.7 million increase in Bank-owned life insurance income due to the receipt of a death benefit payout. These increases were partially offset by a $1.2 million decrease in Trust Department fees primarily related to the decrease in revenue from a real estate fund which is liquidating assets.

Non-interest expense was $63.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to $62.5 million for the same period in 2019. The $0.9 million increase in expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 was primarily due to the $1.3 million increase in branch closure expense in occupancy and depreciation, partially offset by a $0.6 million decrease in professional fees.

We had income tax expense of $6.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $7.6 million for the same period in 2019. The $0.8 million decrease in income tax expense was primarily due to a decrease in pre-tax earnings of $2.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Our effective tax rate was 25.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to 25.8% for the same period in 2019.

Financial Condition

Total assets were $6.5 billion at June 30, 2020, compared to $5.3 billion at December 31, 2019. The increase of $1.1 billion was driven primarily by a $465.4 million increase in cash and cash equivalents, a $428.2 million increase in investment securities, and a $199.2 million increase in loans receivable, net. In the second quarter of 2020, the Bank also made a $2.7 million investment in a solar project with federal tax benefits and added $45.6 million of reverse repurchase agreements backed by Government Guaranteed loans.

Total loans, net at June 30, 2020 were $3.6 billion, an increase of $199.2 million, or 11.7% annualized, compared to December 31, 2019. Loan growth in the first six months of 2020 was primarily driven by a $143.2 million increase in C&I loans including $80.7 million of government guaranteed and Paycheck Protection Program loans, a $69.4 million increase in residential first liens, and a $41.9 million increase in consumer residential solar loans. These increases were partially offset by a $19.1 million decrease in commercial real estate and multifamily loans.

Deposits at June 30, 2020 were $5.9 billion, an increase of $1.2 billion, or 53.3% annualized, as compared to $4.6 billion as of December 31, 2019. Deposits held by politically active customers, such as campaigns, PACs, advocacy-based organizations, and state and national party committees were $1.1 billion as of June 30, 2020, an increase of $522.1 million compared to $578.6 million as of December 31, 2019. Noninterest-bearing deposits represent 49.2% of average deposits and 52.6% of ending deposits for the six months ended June 30, 2020, contributing to an average cost of deposits of 0.20% in the second quarter of 2020, a 13 basis point decrease from the linked quarter.

Nonperforming assets totaled $74.3 million, or 1.15% of period-end total assets at June 30, 2020, an increase of $7.6 million, compared with $66.7 million, or 1.25% of period end total assets at December 31, 2019. The increase in nonperforming assets at June 30, 2020 compared to the year-ended December 31, 2019 was primarily driven by a $14.7 million increase in non-accruing loans, including a $10.2 million hotel loan.

The allowance for loan losses increased $16.2 million to $50.0 million at June 30, 2020 from $33.8 million at December 31, 2019, primarily due to increases in the specific reserves for indirect C&I and hotel loans and an increase in allowance related to the coronavirus pandemic. At June 30, 2020, we had $70.3 million of impaired loans for which a specific allowance of $14.5 million was made, compared to $65.4 million of impaired loans at December 31, 2019 for which a specific allowance of $7.5 million was made. The ratio of allowance to total loans was 1.36% at June 30, 2020 and 0.98% at December 31, 2019.

Capital

As of June 30, 2020, our Common Equity Tier 1 Capital Ratio was 12.29%, Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio was 13.54%, and Tier-1 Leverage Capital Ratio was 7.69%, compared to 13.01%, 14.01% and 8.90%, respectively, as of December 31, 2019. Stockholders’ equity at June 30, 2020 was $503.7 million, compared to $490.5 million at December 31, 2019. The increase in stockholders’ equity was driven by $19.9 million of net income and a $4.0 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive income due to the mark to market on our securities portfolio, offset by a $7.0 million decrease due to share repurchases and a $5.0 million decrease due to dividends to shareholders.

Our tangible book value per share was $15.61 as of June 30, 2020 compared to $14.93 as of December 31, 2019.

About Amalgamated Bank

Amalgamated Bank is a New York-based full-service commercial bank and a chartered trust company with a combined network of 11 branches in New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. Amalgamated was formed in 1923 as Amalgamated Bank of New York by the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America, one of the country's oldest labor unions. Amalgamated provides commercial banking and trust services nationally and offers a full range of products and services to both commercial and retail customers. Amalgamated is a proud member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values and is a certified B Corporation®. As of June 30, 2020, our total assets were $6.5 billion, total net loans were $3.6 billion, and total deposits were $5.9 billion. Additionally, as of June 30, 2020, the trust business held $32.0 billion in assets under custody and $13.3 billion in assets under management.