LYNCHBURG, Va., Oct. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BOTJ), the parent company of Bank of the James, a full-service commercial and retail bank, and Pettyjohn, Wood & White, Inc., an SEC-registered investment advisor, today announced unaudited results of operations for the three month and nine month periods ended September 30, 2022. The Bank serves Region 2000 (the greater Lynchburg MSA), and the Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Roanoke, and Wytheville, Virginia markets.
Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was a record $2.57 million or $0.55 per basic and diluted share compared with $1.88 million or $0.40 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $7.01 million or $1.48 per basic and diluted share compared with $5.73 million or $1.21 per basic and diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
Robert R. Chapman III, CEO, commented: “The Company’s record third quarter earnings and continued strong financial performance underscored the importance of balanced income contributions from a broad range of commercial and retail banking products and expanded wealth management services. Maintaining high asset quality, focusing on operational efficiency and interest rate management supported strong bottom-line performance.
“In the third quarter, productivity as measured by return on average assets exceeded 1%, reaching its highest level in several years. Following several years of navigating an extremely low interest rate environment, our net interest margin improved rapidly in the quarter, as did interest rate spread. These improvements were reflected in net income expansion in the third quarter and nine months of 2022.
“Asset quality remained strong, with few nonperforming loans, further reduction of the Company’s Other Real Estate Owned (OREO), and strong asset quality ratios. As in the past two quarters, we recorded a recovery of loan losses as there was no requirement to provide for loan losses. Productivity, efficiency and asset quality have greatly contributed to record earnings.
“Loan growth and the Company’s prompt response to rising interest rates led to 16% year-over-year growth in net interest income in the third quarter, and 6% growth in the nine-month period compared with a year earlier. In both periods of 2022, we saw double-digit growth of noninterest income compared with a year earlier. Expanded use of fee-based electronic corporate cash management services and income from PWW strengthened noninterest income.
“The Company’s consistent earnings and capital strength positioned us to enhance shareholder value by repurchasing approximately 2% of the Company’s outstanding common stock during the quarter. Our Board of Directors also approved an increased quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share, an increase of 14% from last quarter, reflecting a commitment to building value for shareholders even in the face of changing and challenging stock market conditions.
“The communities and customers we serve continue to demonstrate financial strength and stability. Rising interest rates and concerns about inflation and the economy have understandably slowed activity in commercial lending. Our residential mortgage origination business, which has been exceptionally brisk in the past several years, also experienced the impact of rising interest rates on demand – particularly mortgage refinancings. We expect Bank of the James’ reputation for loan processing, service and pricing will support our continued leadership in purchase mortgage originations.
“As we progress toward year-end, we look forward to providing superior financial solutions for customers and growth in value which shareholders expect.”
Highlights
- Net income in the third quarter of 2022 increased 37% from a year earlier, while net income in the nine months of 2022 rose 22% compared with the nine months of 2021. Income growth in both periods of 2022 reflected balanced contributions from commercial and retail banking, residential mortgage originations, wealth management, and loan loss recoveries.
- Total interest income in the third quarter of 2022 increased 15% from the prior year’s third quarter as commercial real estate lending continued to grow and rate-adjusted loans reflected the rising interest rate environment.
- Net interest income was $7.9 million in the third quarter of 2022, up 16% from a year earlier, primarily reflecting increased interest income and continuing low interest expense. Net interest income in the nine months of 2022 grew 6% compared with the nine months of 2021.
- Total noninterest income in the third quarter of 2022 rose 37% compared with a year earlier as slowing income from gain on sale of residential mortgage loans was more than offset by wealth management fees and interchange income on card activity. Noninterest income in the nine months of 2022 increased 27% compared with the same period of 2021.
- Loans, net of the allowance for loan losses, increased 7% to $614.11 million at September 30, 2022 compared with $576.50 million at December 31, 2021, primarily reflecting commercial loan growth.
- Asset quality remained strong, reflected in a ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans of 0.13% at September 30, 2022 compared with 0.16% at December 31, 2021. The Company continued to trim OREO, writing down a significant portion of OREO based on its recently contracted sales price.
- Total deposits declined marginally at September 30, 2022 compared with December 31, 2021 and reflected continued strength of lower-cost core deposits (noninterest-bearing demand, NOW, savings and money market accounts), which were 85% of total deposits.
- In both periods of 2022, Return on Average Assets (ROAA) and Return on Average Equity (ROAE) ratios improved significantly from 2021.
- The Company repurchased 112,000 shares of its common stock during the quarter for an aggregate of $1,402,000, which equates to an average price of approximately $12.51 per share.
- On October 18, 2022 the Company’s board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share (up from $0.07 last quarter) to stockholders of record as of November 25, 2022, to be paid on December 9, 2022.
Third Quarter, Nine Months of 2022 Operational Review
Net interest income after recovery of loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 was $8.2 million compared with $6.8 million a year earlier, primarily reflecting higher interest income, stable year-over-year interest expense, and a $300,000 recovery of loan losses, as indicated by the Bank’s allowance for loan losses methodology.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, net interest income after recovery of loan losses was $22.3 million compared with $20.3 million a year earlier, reflecting increased interest rates, higher interest income from the Bank’s securities portfolio, a decrease in interest expense, and a $900,000 recovery of loan losses, as indicated by the Bank’s allowance for loan losses methodology.
Total interest income increased to $8.4 million in the third quarter of 2022 compared with $7.3 million a year earlier. The quarterly increase reflected accelerating organic loan growth and interest rate increases. Higher rates have had a positive impact on the yields earned on interest earning assets. The yield on interest earning assets in the third quarter of 2022 was 3.64%, up significantly from a year earlier. Total interest income for the nine months of 2022 was $22.9 million compared with $21.9 million for the nine months of 2021, also reflecting accelerating organic loan growth and interest rate increases.
Total interest expense in the third quarter of 2022 was $499,000 compared with $493,000 a year earlier, while interest expense in the nine months of 2022 was $1.5 million, down 8% from $1.6 million in the nine months of 2021. Both periods reflected ongoing reductions in the cost of time deposits, continued high levels of lower-cost core deposits (noninterest-bearing demand, NOW, savings and money market accounts), partially offset by interest expense on a loan used to finance the 2021 acquisition of PWW. In the second quarter of 2022, the company negotiated a lower rate paid on the acquisition loan.
J. Todd Scruggs, Executive Vice President and CFO, commented: “Improvements in net interest margin and net interest spread in the third quarter of 2022 reflected adjustments to our investment strategy based on our expectation that interest rates would be rising, and our ability to successfully manage our deposit costs.
“Earlier in the year, the Company’s actions included shifting a significant amount of investment funds from Fed Funds into its fixed income portfolio as yields became more attractive. We have also adjusted loan rates upward to be consistent with the rising interest rate environment with the expectation it might lead to somewhat slower commercial loan activity. Although some borrowers have sought lower-rate loans from other lenders or delayed borrowing decisions, most of our clients continue to appreciate the value of their full-service relationship with Bank of the James.”
The net interest margin in the third quarter of 2022 was 3.43% and the interest spread was 3.38%, up significantly from the margin and spread in both the third quarter of 2021 and the second quarter of 2022. For the first nine months of 2022, the net interest margin was 3.09% and interest spread was 3.04%.
Noninterest income in the third quarter of 2022 was $3.9 million compared with $2.8 million in the third quarter of 2021, while noninterest income in the nine months of 2022 was $10.5 million compared with $8.3 million for the nine months of 2021. Gains on the sale of residential mortgage loans held for sale declined in both periods compared with a year earlier. Higher interest rates negatively impacted mortgage origination activity, particularly refinancings. Management noted that the Bank’s reputation for service, pricing, and loan processing efficiency supported continued purchase mortgage activity.
Growth in fee income in the third quarter of 2022 primarily reflected increased interchange income earned on card activity and overdraft fees, as well as a $0.07 per share income contribution from PWW.
Noninterest expense in the third quarter of 2022 was $8.9 million compared with $7.3 million in the third quarter of 2021. In the nine months of 2022, noninterest expense was $24.1 million compared with $21.4 million a year earlier. Both periods of 2022 reflected increased salaries and employee benefits primarily related to the addition of PWW.
For the three months ended September 30, 2022, ROAE was 19.47% and ROAA was 1.05%, with both ratios up considerably from a year earlier. For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, ROAE was 15.45% and ROAA was 0.95%, also up from the nine months of 2021.
Balance Sheet Reflects Organic Loan Growth, Strong Asset Quality
Total assets were $962.57 million at September 30, 2022 compared with $987.63 million at December 31, 2021. Loans, net of allowance for loan losses, increased to $614.12 million at September 30, 2022 from $576.47 million at December 31, 2021. The growth in loans receivable primarily reflected new CRE loans. Commercial real estate loans (owner occupied and non-owner occupied and excluding construction loans) were approximately $336.88 million at September 30, 2022, an increase from $307.95 million at December 31, 2021 that reflected CRE loan activity and growth throughout 2022.
Michael A. Syrek, President of the Bank, commented: “We have had several years of strong, steady growth in CRE lending, which we believe reflects the outstanding financial solutions Bank of the James offers and superior service from skilled relationship managers. Residential housing construction lending showed continued year-over-year growth, and commercial construction lending slowed year-over-year.
“As expected, we did experience a slowing of loan demand in the third quarter. In light of interest rate increases and economic uncertainties, we anticipate continuing softening in commercial loan demand, although we continue to have an attractive loan pipeline and good loan activity. Importantly, the quality of our loan portfolio has remained exceptionally high – a very positive indication of customers’ continued financial strength.”
Commercial loans (primarily C&I loans) were $101.23 million at September 30, 2022 compared with $105.07 million at December 31, 2021. Commercial construction loans at September 30, 2022 were $20.34 million, declining slightly from prior quarters as previous projects were completed. Residential construction lending was up from a year earlier, reflecting continuing demand for new housing in several of the Company’s markets. Secured consumer lending increased significantly at September 30, 2022 compared with September 30, 2021.
A decline in historical loss experience, improved delinquency trends, and other net improvements in qualitative factors resulted in a reduction of the Company’s allowance for loan losses since December 31, 2021. Asset quality has been consistently strong and stable, with a ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans of 0.13% at September 30, 2022. The allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.03% at September 30, 2022.
Total nonperforming loans of $788,000 were down 17% from December 31, 2021. OREO declined 26% at September 30, 2022 from December 31, 2021, reflecting a third quarter 2022 write-down of a property that went under contract.
Total deposits at September 30, 2022 were $883.07 million, compared with $887.06 million at December 31, 2021. Total deposits continued to reflect good demand deposit activity and continued trimming of time deposits.
The Company’s total retained earnings increased to $29.5 million at September 30, 2022 from $23.4 million at December 31, 2021. Some measures of shareholder value declined at September 30, 2022, primarily reflecting market value changes of the Company’s available-for-sale securities portfolio. Total stockholders’ equity decreased to $48.3 million from $69.4 million at December 31, 2021. This corresponds to a decrease of $4.21 per share in book value to $10.44 at September 30, 2022 from $14.65 at December 31, 2021. These decreases directly resulted from the impact that higher interest rates had on the market value of the Company’s available-for-sale securities portfolio.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the value of the Bank’s available-for-sale securities portfolio has decreased by $25.70 million. The decrease is attributable to changes in market rates of interest rather than the credit concerns of the issuers. This decrease was responsible for a $5.55 per share decrease in book value from December 31, 2021 through September 30, 2022. This decrease in book value per share was partially offset by stock repurchases during the nine months of 2022. These mark-to-market losses are excluded from the Bank’s regulatory capital. The Company does not expect to realize the unrealized losses as it has the intent and ability to hold the securities until their recovery, which may be at maturity. The duration of the Company’s overall securities portfolio is approximately 6.25 years.
About the Company
Bank of the James, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. opened for business in July 1999 and is headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Bank currently services customers in Virginia from offices located in Altavista, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Forest, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Madison Heights, Roanoke, Rustburg, and Wytheville. The Bank offers full investment and insurance services through its BOTJ Investment Services division and BOTJ Insurance, Inc. subsidiary. The Bank provides mortgage loan origination through Bank of the James Mortgage, a division of Bank of the James. The Company provides investment advisory services through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pettyjohn, Wood & White, Inc., an SEC-registered investment advisor. Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. common stock is listed under the symbol “BOTJ” on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC. Additional information on the Company is available at www.bankofthejames.bank.
