IOWA CITY, Iowa, April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MOFG) (“we”, “our”, or the "Company”) today reported results for the first quarter of 2024.

First Quarter 2024 Summary¹

• Completed acquisition of Denver Bankshares, Inc. ("DNVB"), the related core banking system conversion, and closure of the legacy MidWestOne Denver banking office.
• Net income of $3.3 million, or $0.21 per diluted common share.
  • Revenue was $44.5 million, comprised of net interest income of $34.7 million and noninterest income of $9.8 million, which included a negative MSR valuation adjustment of $368 thousand.
  • Credit loss expense of $4.7 million, which included day 1 credit loss expense of $3.2 million related to the DNVB acquisition.
  • Noninterest Expense of $35.6 million, which included merger-related costs of $1.3 million, OREO write-down expense of $311 thousand, and non-acquisition related severance expense of $261 thousand.
• Net interest margin (tax equivalent) expanded 11 bps to 2.33%².
• Annualized adjusted loan growth (excluding acquired DNVB loan balances) of 8%.
• Continued momentum in Wealth Management with revenue growth of 10%.
• Nonperforming assets ratio remained stable at 0.49%; net charge-off ratio was 0.02%.
  

CEO Commentary

Charles (Chip) Reeves, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, “We are very pleased with the underlying strength of the first quarter as we continue to execute on our strategic initiatives. During the quarter we closed and integrated Denver Bankshares, the front end of our geographic realignment announced in late September 2023, and our Florida divestiture remains on track for a June 2024 closing.

Importantly, our net interest margin expanded this quarter, rising 11 bps, with net interest income increasing 7% from the fourth quarter of 2023. This outcome reflected the strategic balance sheet actions taken in 2023, the completed merger of DNVB, and continued loan growth in our targeted metro markets.

In Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, our customer and banker acquisition strategies led to robust balance sheet, assets under management, and revenue gains, and we will continue to invest in these critical business lines. Even amidst significant talent, platform, and product investments, we have been able to re-allocate resources to maintain expense discipline.

We welcome our new Bank of Denver team members, and I am proud of our entire MidWestOne team for their commitment to our customers and execution of our strategic plan."

DENVER BANKSHARES, INC. ACQUISITION

On January 31, 2024, we completed our acquisition of Denver Bankshares, Inc, and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, the Bank of Denver. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. The assets and liabilities, both tangible and intangible, were recorded at their fair values as of the January 31, 2024 acquisition date, net of any applicable tax effects. The Company considers all purchase accounting estimates provisional and fair values are subject to refinement for up to one year after the close date.

The table below summarizes the amounts recognized at the acquisition date for each major class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:

REVENUE REVIEW

Total revenue for the first quarter of 2024 increased $8.1 million from the fourth quarter of 2023 due to higher noninterest income and net interest income during the quarter. When compared to the first quarter of 2023, total revenue increased $8.5 million due to higher noninterest income, partially offset by lower net interest income.

Net interest income of $34.7 million for the first quarter of 2024 increased $2.2 million from the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to higher interest earning asset volumes and yields, partially offset by higher interest bearing liabilities volumes and funding costs. When compared to the first quarter of 2023, net interest income decreased $5.3 million, primarily due to higher funding costs and volumes, partially offset by higher interest earning asset volumes and yields.

The Company's tax equivalent net interest margin was 2.33%³ in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 2.22%³ in the fourth quarter of 2023, as higher earning asset yields more than offset increased funding costs. Total interest earning assets yield during the first quarter of 2024 increased 20 bps from the fourth quarter of 2023, as a result of increased loan and securities yields of 17 bps and 10 bps, respectively. The cost of interest bearing liabilities during the first quarter of 2024 increased 10 bps, to 2.75%, due primarily to interest bearing deposit costs of 2.45% and long-term debt of 6.86%, which increased 6 bps and 7 bps, respectively, from the fourth quarter of 2023, as well as a mix-shift to increased short-term borrowings. Our cycle-to-date interest bearing deposit beta was 41%.

The Company's tax equivalent net interest margin was 2.33%³ in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 2.75%³ in the first quarter of 2023, driven by higher funding costs, partially offset by higher interest earning asset yields. The cost of interest bearing liabilities increased 116 bps to 2.75%, due to interest bearing deposit costs of 2.45%, short-term borrowing costs of 4.82%, and long-term debt costs of 6.86%, which increased 107 bps, 200 bps and 67 bps, respectively from the first quarter of 2023. Total interest earning assets yield increased 56 bps from the first quarter of 2023, primarily as a result of an increase in loan yields of 56 bps.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2024 increased $5.9 million from the linked quarter, primarily due to investment securities losses, net, of $5.7 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 as part of a balance sheet repositioning, which did not recur in the first quarter of 2024. Investment services and trust activities income increased $0.3 million during the first quarter of 2024, as a result of growth in assets under administration and market valuation.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2024 increased $13.8 million from the first quarter of 2023, primarily due to the investment securities losses, net, of $13.2 million recorded in the first quarter of 2023 as part of a balance sheet repositioning, which did not recur in the first quarter of 2024. Investment services and trust activities income increased $0.6 million compared to the first quarter of 2023, due to growth in assets under administration. Partially offsetting these identified increases was a decline of $0.6 million in loan revenue, which primarily reflected the unfavorable year-over-year change in the fair value of our mortgage servicing rights, from a positive adjustment of $315 thousand in the first quarter of 2023 to a negative adjustment of $368 thousand in the first quarter of 2024.

EXPENSE REVIEW

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2024 increased $3.4 million from the linked quarter primarily due to increases of $3.1 million, $0.5 million, and $0.3 million in compensation and employee benefits, occupancy expense of premises, net, and foreclosed assets, net, respectively. The increase in compensation and employee benefits was primarily driven by annual compensation adjustments, increased headcount as a result of the DNVB acquisition, increased incentive and commission expense, and merger-related expenses. The increase in occupancy was primarily driven by additional expense as a result of the DNVB acquisition, merger-related expenses, and increased costs for snow removal. The increase in foreclosed assets expense was driven by a $0.3 million write-down of other real estate owned.

Noninterest expense for the first quarter of 2024 increased $2.2 million from the first quarter of 2023, primarily due to increases of $1.3 million, $0.4 million, and $0.4 million in compensation and employee benefits, equipment, and foreclosed assets, net, respectively. The increase in compensation and employee benefits was primarily driven by annual compensation adjustments, increased headcount as a result of the DNVB acquisition, increased incentive and commission expense, and merger-related expenses. The increase in equipment reflected higher software costs and merger-related expenses. The increase in foreclosed assets, net, was due to a $0.3 million write-down of other real estate owned. Partially offsetting these increases was a decline of $0.4 million in marketing.

The Company's effective tax rate was 22.7% in the first quarter of 2024. The effective income tax rate for 2024 is expected to be 21-23%.

BALANCE SHEET REVIEW

Total assets were $6.75 billion at March 31, 2024, compared to $6.43 billion at December 31, 2023 and $6.41 billion at March 31, 2023. The increase from December 31, 2023 was primarily driven by the assets acquired from the acquisition of DNVB and organic loan growth. Compared to March 31, 2023, the increase was primarily driven by the assets acquired from the acquisition of DNVB, organic loan growth, and higher cash balances, partially offset by lower securities balances resulting from balance sheet repositioning executed in 2023.

Loans held for investment, net of unearned income, increased $287.7 million, or 7.0%, to $4.41 billion from $4.13 billion at December 31, 2023 and $495.3 million, or 12.6%, from $3.92 billion at March 31, 2023. This increase from the fourth quarter of 2023 was driven by loans acquired in the DNVB acquisition, organic loan growth, and higher line of credit usage. The increase from the first quarter of 2023 was driven by loans acquired in the DNVB acquisition and organic loan growth.

Investment securities at March 31, 2024 were $1.86 billion, decreasing $8.2 million from December 31, 2023 and $209.6 million from March 31, 2023. The decrease from the fourth quarter of 2023 was primarily due to the principal cash flows received from scheduled payments, calls, and maturities. The decrease from the first quarter of 2023 was primarily due to balance sheet repositioning executed in 2023.

Deposits increased $189.6 million, or 3.5%, to $5.59 billion, from $5.40 billion at December 31, 2023, primarily due to the $224.2 million of deposits assumed in the DNVB acquisition. Total deposits increased $30.1 million, or 0.5%, from $5.56 billion at March 31, 2023 due to the DNVB acquisition, partially offset by a decline of $161.5 million in brokered deposits.

Borrowed funds were $545.1 million at March 31, 2024, an increase of $121.5 million from December 31, 2023 and an increase of $263.1 million from March 31, 2023. The increase compared to the linked quarter was due to higher Bank Term Funding Program borrowings and other short-term borrowings, partially offset by lower Federal Home Loan Bank overnight borrowings. The increase compared to March 31, 2023 was primarily due to higher Bank Term Funding Program borrowings and other short-term borrowings, partially offset by lower Federal Home Loan Bank overnight borrowings and securities sold under agreements to repurchase.

Total shareholders' equity at March 31, 2024 increased $3.7 million from December 31, 2023, driven by decreases in accumulated other comprehensive loss and treasury stock, partially offset by the decline in additional paid-in capital and retained earnings. Total shareholders' equity at March 31, 2024 increased $27.4 million from March 31, 2023, driven by decreases in accumulated other comprehensive loss and treasury stock, coupled with an increase in retained earnings.

Accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 31, 2024 decreased $4.1 million compared to December 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in available for sale securities valuations. Accumulated other comprehensive loss decreased $18.1 million from March 31, 2023, primarily due to an increase in available for sale securities valuations and the recognition of the loss from the fourth quarter of 2023 sale of securities.

On April 25, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.2425 per common share. The dividend is payable June 17, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 3, 2024.

No common shares were repurchased by the Company during the period December 31, 2023 through March 31, 2024 or for the subsequent period through April 25, 2024. The current share repurchase program allows for the repurchase of up to $15.0 million of the Company's common shares.

CREDIT QUALITY REVIEW

Compared to the linked quarter, the nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets ratios remained stable, with slight increases in both ratios of 2 bps, to 0.66% and 0.49%, respectively. Special mention/watch balances increased $39.6 million from the linked quarter primarily due to two trucking industry relationships, while the classified loans ratio decreased 36 bps from the linked quarter. When compared to the prior year, the nonperforming loans and assets ratios increased 29 bps and 26 bps, respectively. Further, the net charge-off ratio declined 18 bps from the linked quarter and 1 bp from the same period in the prior year.

As of March 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses was $55.9 million and the allowance for credit losses ratio was 1.27%, compared with $51.5 million and 1.25% at December 31, 2023. Credit loss expense of $4.7 million in the first quarter of 2024 reflected $3.2 million of day 1 credit loss expense related to the DNVB acquisition, as well as additional reserve taken to support organic loan growth.

CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS

The Company will host a conference call for investors at 11:00 a.m. CT on Friday, April 26, 2024. To participate, you may pre-register for this call utilizing the following link: https://www.netroadshow.com/events/login?show=0114d1d0&confId=63215. After pre-registering for this event you will receive your access details via email. On the day of the call, you are also able to dial 1-833-470-1428 using an access code of 891090 at least fifteen minutes before the call start time. If you are unable to participate on the call, a replay will be available until July 25, 2024 by calling 1-866-813-9403 and using the replay access code of 561214. A transcript of the call will also be available on the Company’s web site (www.midwestonefinancial.com) within three business days of the call.

ABOUT MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa. MidWestOne is the parent company of MidWestOne Bank, which operates banking offices in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, and Colorado. MidWestOne provides electronic delivery of financial services through its website, MidWestOne.bank. MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “MOFG”.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of such term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We and our representatives may, from time to time, make written or oral statements that are “forward-looking” and provide information other than historical information. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by any forward-looking statement. These factors include, among other things, the factors listed below. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of our management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “plans,” “goals,” “intend,” “project,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “may” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Additionally, we undertake no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events, except as required under federal securities law.

Our ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors that could have an impact on our ability to achieve operating results, growth plan goals and future prospects include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the risks of mergers or branch sales (including the sale of our Florida branches and the recent acquisition of DNVB), including, without limitation, the related time and costs of implementing such transactions, integrating operations as part of these transactions and possible failures to achieve expected gains, revenue growth and/or expense savings from such transactions; (2) credit quality deterioration, pronounced and sustained reduction in real estate market values, or other uncertainties, including the impact of inflationary pressures on economic conditions and our business, resulting in an increase in the allowance for credit losses, an increase in the credit loss expense, and a reduction in net earnings; (3) the effects of significant increases in inflation and interest rates since 2020, including on our net income and the value of our securities portfolio; (4) changes in the economic environment, competition, or other factors that may affect our ability to acquire loans or influence the anticipated growth rate of loans and deposits and the quality of the loan portfolio and loan and deposit pricing; (5) fluctuations in the value of our investment securities; (6) governmental monetary and fiscal policies; (7) changes in and uncertainty related to benchmark interest rates used to price loans and deposits; (8) legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities, trade, and tax laws and regulations and their application by our regulators, including the 1.0% excise tax on stock buybacks by publicly traded companies and any changes in response to the recent failures of other banks; (9) the ability to attract and retain key executives and employees experienced in banking and financial services; (10) the sufficiency of the allowance for credit losses to absorb the amount of actual losses inherent in our existing loan portfolio; (11) our ability to adapt successfully to technological changes to compete effectively in the marketplace; (12) credit risks and risks from concentrations (by geographic area and by industry) within our loan portfolio; (13) the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds, financial technology companies, and other financial institutions operating in our markets or elsewhere or providing similar services; (14) the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of allowances for credit losses and estimation of values of collateral and various financial assets and liabilities; (15) volatility of rate-sensitive deposits; (16) operational risks, including data processing system failures or fraud; (17) asset/liability matching risks and liquidity risks; (18) the costs, effects and outcomes of existing or future litigation; (19) changes in general economic, political, or industry conditions, nationally, internationally or in the communities in which we conduct business, including the risk of a recession; (20) changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies and the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (21) war or terrorist activities, including the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, widespread disease or pandemic, or other adverse external events, which may cause deterioration in the economy or cause instability in credit markets; (22) the occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches, or failures of our or our third-party vendors' information security controls or cyber-security related incidents, including as a result of sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence and similar tools; (23) the imposition of tariffs or other domestic or international governmental policies impacting the value of the agricultural or other products of our borrowers; (24) potential changes in federal policy and at regulatory agencies as a result of the upcoming 2024 presidential election; (25) the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits; (26) the effects of recent developments and events in the financial services industry, including the large-scale deposit withdrawals over a short period of time that resulted in recent bank failures; and (27) other risk factors detailed from time to time in Securities and Exchange Commission filings made by the Company.

MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
FIVE QUARTER CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
FIVE QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
FINANCIAL STATISTICS

MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET AND YIELD ANALYSIS

Non-GAAP Measures

This earnings release contains non-GAAP measures for tangible common equity, tangible book value per share, tangible common equity ratio, return on average tangible equity, net interest margin (tax equivalent), core net interest margin, loan yield (tax equivalent), core yield on loans, and efficiency ratio. Management believes these measures provide investors with useful information regarding the Company’s profitability, financial condition and capital adequacy, consistent with how management evaluates the Company’s financial performance. The following tables provide a reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most comparable GAAP measure.