Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corp. (Nasdaq: BHRB) reported financial results for the quarter ended and year ended December 31, 2023. In addition, at its meeting on January 25, 2024, the board of directors declared a $0.53 per share regular cash dividend to be paid on March 1, 2024, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 15, 2024
- Net income totaled $5.1 million for the quarter compared to $4.1 million the previous quarter and $13.4 million for the same quarter in 2022. Diluted earnings per share for the quarter was $0.67, compared to $0.55 the previous quarter and $1.78 for the same quarter in 2022.
- Excluding significant items1, operating net income (non-GAAP2) totaled $6.2 million for the quarter, compared to $5.6 million the previous quarter and $13.6 million for the same quarter in 2022. Excluding significant items1, adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP2) for the quarter was $0.83, compared to $0.75 the previous quarter and $1.82 for the same quarter in 2022.
- For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, net income totaled $22.7 million, or $3.02 per diluted share, compared to $44.0 million, or $5.89 per diluted share, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
- Excluding significant items1, operating net income (non-GAAP2) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, totaled $25.8 million, or $3.43 per adjusted diluted share (non-GAAP2), compared to $44.3 million, or $5.93 per adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP2), for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
The Company notes the following highlights:
- Balance sheet remains strong with ample liquidity. Total liquidity, including all available borrowing capacity with cash and cash equivalents, totaled $959.5 million at the end of the fourth quarter.
- Total loans increased $17.1 million during the quarter ending December 31, 2023, ending at $2.1 billion.
- Total deposits increased $16.3 million compared to the prior quarter, ending the quarter at $3.0 billion, and resulting in a loan-to-deposit ratio of 70%.
- Asset quality remains stable across the loan portfolio with adequate reserves.
- The Company continues to be well-capitalized, ending the quarter with 16.8% Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, 17.9% Total risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets, and a leverage ratio of 11.3%.
- On December 6, 2023, the Company and Summit Financial Group, Inc. (“Summit”) (Nasdaq: SMMF) announced that at special meetings of their respective shareholders held on December 6, 2023, Burke & Herbert and Summit shareholders approved the merger of Summit with and into Burke & Herbert, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of August 24, 2023, by and between Burke & Herbert and Summit. The closing of the proposed merger remains subject to regulatory approvals and certain other customary closing conditions.
From David P. Boyle, Company Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer
“The past year was a transformational period for the Company. Despite the multiple challenges facing our industry and the resulting pressure on earnings, we remained focused on controlling what we can control. We increased loans, maintained a strong liquidity position, continued to make investments in our businesses, listed our shares on the Nasdaq stock exchange, moved to our new corporate center, and announced our intention to combine with Summit Financial Group in a merger of peers. I’m proud of the team and the strategic focus we maintained in order to deliver long-term value to our customers, our employees, our communities, and our shareholders.”
Results of Operations
Fourth Quarter 2023 – Comparison to prior year quarter
Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2023, was $5.1 million or $8.3 million lower than the three months ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to merger-related costs, increased funding costs, and the sale of corporate buildings that resulted in a $4.5 million gain in the prior year quarter, partially offset by a recapture of credit loss provision in the current quarter.
Total revenue (non-GAAP2) for the three months ended December 31, 2023, was $27.1 million or 16% lower than the three months ended December 31, 2022, and included $27.3 million in interest and fees on loans and $10.4 million in investment security income, which was a 29% increase and a 7% decrease, respectively, over the prior year three months ended December 31, 2022. Overall, interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2023, was $38.2 million or 17% higher than the three months ended December 31, 2022. The increase in interest income for the Company’s loans was due to increased loan balances and higher rates, and the interest income decrease in investment securities was due to a lower level of investment securities. Loans, net of allowance for credit losses, ended the quarter at $2.1 billion or 11% higher than December 31, 2022, while the investment portfolio fair value ended the quarter at $1.2 billion or 9% lower than the prior year quarter.
The increase in interest income was offset by an increase in interest expense, which was $15.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, or $11.2 million higher than the prior year quarter. The rapid rise in the interest rate environment resulted in an increase in the Company’s cost of funds that outpaced the resulting benefit of higher rates on assets. The Company’s deposit and borrowing interest expense was $12.5 million and $3.4 million, or $10.5 million and $0.7 million higher, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Total deposits ended the quarter at $3.0 billion, which was slightly higher than the balance in the prior year. Non-interest-bearing deposits decreased by 14% to $830.3 million and borrowed funds decreased by 21% to $272.0 million from the prior year quarter ended December 31, 2022, reflecting the changing deposit mix from non-interest-bearing to interest-bearing, which increased by 11%, resulting in higher interest expense. Overall, net interest income decreased by $5.6 million from the prior year quarter.
Non-interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2023, increased by $0.6 million from the same period last year and was $4.8 million in the current period. The increase in other non-interest income was primarily due to the strategic sale of securities that resulted in a loss of $0.5 million in the prior year quarter.
For the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a recapture of credit losses of $0.8 million, compared to a provision for credit losses of $0.1 million in the prior year quarter due to improving portfolio credit quality. Total revenue (non-GAAP2) after provision for credit losses was $27.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, which was a decrease of 13% compared to the same period last year.
Non-interest expense increased by $5.8 million, or 35%, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, from the prior year three months ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to other non-interest expenses associated with merger-related activities. The Company incurred expenses during the fourth quarter of 2023 related to the pending merger with Summit that included legal, consulting, investment banking, and integration-ready related costs. In addition, the prior year quarter non-interest expense also included the gain on sale of corporate buildings.
As of December 31, 2023, total shareholders’ equity was $314.8 million or $41.3 million higher than December 31, 2022, primarily the result of higher fair value marks for the security portfolio resulting in lower accumulated other comprehensive loss by $36.0 million.
Twelve months ended December 31, 2023 – Comparison to prior full year period
Net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was $22.7 million or $21.3 million lower than the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, primarily due to increased funding costs, listing and merger-related costs, and the change in provision for credit losses that included a recapture of credit losses in the prior full year period.
Total revenue (non-GAAP2) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was $111.7 million or 8% lower than the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, and included $101.8 million in interest and fees on loans and $42.8 million in investment security income, which was a 38% increase and an 11% increase, respectively, over the prior full year period. Overall, interest income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, was $146.9 million or 30% higher than the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. The increase in interest income for the Company’s loans was due to increased loan balances and higher rates and the interest income increase on investment securities was due to higher rates.
The increase in interest income was offset by an increase in interest expense, which was $53.1 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, or $44.2 million higher than the prior full year period. The rapidly rising rate environment resulted in an increase in the Company’s cost of funds that outpaced the resulting benefit of higher rates on assets. The Company’s deposit and borrowing interest expense was $39.2 million and $13.9 million, or $35.5 million and $8.7 million higher, respectively, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, than for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022. Overall, net interest income decreased by $9.9 million from the prior full year period.
Non-interest income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, increased $0.9 million from the same full year period last year to $18.0 million. The increase was primarily due to higher other non-interest income revenue of $0.5 million. Within other non-interest income, the Company received an increase in dividend income from the Federal Home Loan Banks and increased fee income from customer swap activity when compared to the prior full year period ended December 31, 2022. The Company also recognized lower losses on the sale of securities resulting in a year-over-year increase of $0.3 million. This increase in non-interest income was partially offset by lower income generated from service charges and fees, which decreased by $0.2 million.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $0.2 million compared to a recapture of credit losses of $7.5 million in the prior full year period. The provision recapture, in 2022, was a result of removing COVID-19 qualitative factors and the sale of a non-performing loan note. Total revenue (non-GAAP2) after provision for credit losses was $111.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, which was a decrease of 13% compared to the same full year period last year and primarily due to the change in provision for credit losses and higher funding costs.
Non-interest expense increased by $10.5 million, or 14%, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, from the prior year twelve months. The increase was primarily driven by other non-interest expenses, which increased by $8.6 million due to costs associated with the listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq stock exchange and the filing of a Form 10 Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to register our common stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (together, “Listing-related”), and with costs incurred for the pending merger with Summit. Additionally, the Company sold corporate buildings for a gain in the prior year, which lowered other non-interest expense for the prior full year period.
Regulatory capital ratios
The Company continues to be well-capitalized with capital ratios that are above regulatory requirements. As of December 31, 2023, our Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted asset and Total risk-based capital to risk-weighted asset ratios were 16.8% and 17.9%, respectively, and significantly above the well-capitalized requirements of 6.5% and 10%, respectively. The leverage ratio was 11.3% compared to a 5% level to be considered well-capitalized.
Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company (“the Bank”), the Company’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary, also continues to be well-capitalized with capital ratios that are above regulatory requirements. As of December 31, 2023, the Bank’s Common Equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted asset and Total risk-based capital to risk-weighted asset ratios were 16.8% and 17.8%, respectively, and significantly above the well-capitalized requirements. In addition, the Bank’s leverage ratio of 11.3% is considered to be well-capitalized.
For more information about the Company’s financial condition, including additional disclosures pertinent to recent events in the banking industry, please see our financial statements and supplemental information attached to this release.
About Burke & Herbert
Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corp. is the financial holding company for Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company. Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company is the oldest continuously operating bank under its original name headquartered in the greater Washington DC Metro area. The Bank offers a full range of business and personal financial solutions designed to meet customers’ banking, borrowing, and investment needs and has over 20 branches throughout the Northern Virginia region and commercial loan offices in Fredericksburg, Loudoun County, Richmond, and in Bethesda, Maryland. Learn more at www.burkeandherbertbank.com.
