John R. Buran, President and CEO Commentary  

UNIONDALE, N.Y., Jan. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GAAP and Core NIM Expand QoQ; Average Total Deposits Increase. The Company reported fourth quarter and full year 2023 GAAP EPS of $0.27 and $0.96, respectively. Core EPS for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023 totaled $0.25 and $0.83, respectively. 4Q23 GAAP NIM was 2.29% while Core NIM amounted to 2.31%. The actions undertaken in 2023 to reduce interest rate risk, including adding interest rate hedges and floating rate loans, assisted in reducing the NIM compression. Absent episodic items, the NIM was 2.14%, an increase of 5 basis points quarter over quarter. Average total deposits increased 3.1% YoY and 0.9% QoQ while importantly, noninterest bearing deposits increased $21.6 million, or 2.5% QoQ.

Strong Credit Quality; Stable Capital. Nonperforming assets to total assets increased to 54 bps compared to 45 bps in 3Q23, while criticized and classified loans to loans was 1.11% in 4Q23, compared to 1.08% in 3Q23. Net charge-offs were only $60 thousand in 4Q23. Capital continues to be sound with TCE/TA¹ of 7.64% at December 31, 2023, compared to 7.56% at September 30, 2023. The Company repurchased 38,815 shares at an average cost $15.08 (33% discount to tangible book value) during 4Q23.

Note: In certain circumstances, reclassifications have been made to prior periods to conform to the current presentation.
¹ Tangible Common Equity (“TCE”)/Total Assets (“TA”) ² See “Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings and Core Earnings”, “Reconciliation of GAAP Revenue and Pre-Provision Pre-Tax Net Revenue”, and “Reconciliation of GAAP Net Interest Margin to Core Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin.” ³ Net Interest Margin (“NIM”) Fully Taxable Equivalent (“FTE”).

¹ Episodic items include prepayment penalty income, customer swap termination fees, net reversals and recovered interest from nonaccrual loans, net gain/loss from fair value on qualifying hedges, and purchase accounting adjustments

¹ See Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings and Core Earnings

Net interest income decreased YoY but increased QoQ.

• Net Interest Margin FTE of 2.29% decreased 41 bps YoY, but increased 7 bps QoQ
• Prepayment penalty income, customer swap termination fees, net reversals and recoveries of interest from nonaccrual loans, net gains and losses from fair value adjustments on qualifying hedges, and purchase accounting accretion totaled $3.0 million (15 bps to the NIM) compared to $2.6 million (13 bps to the NIM) in 3Q23, $0.5 million (3 bps) in 2Q23, $1.1 million (6 bps) in 1Q23, and $2.4 million (12 bps) in 4Q22
• Excluding the items in the previous bullet, net interest margin was 2.14% in 4Q23, 2.09% in 3Q23, 2.15% in 2Q23, 2.21% in 1Q23, and 2.58% in 4Q22
  

The provision for credit losses increased YoY and QoQ.

• Net charge-offs (recoveries) were $60,000 in 4Q23 (less than 1 bp of average loans) compared to $(42,000) in 3Q23 (less than (1) bp of average loans), $1.6 million in 2Q23 (9 bps of average loans), $9.2 million in 1Q23 (54 bps of average loans), and $0.8 million in 4Q22 (5 bps of average loans)
• 1Q23 net charge-offs were primarily related to a commercial business relationship that was placed on nonaccrual in 2Q22

Noninterest income (loss) increased YoY and QoQ.

• Back-to-back swap loan closings of $121.6 million in 4Q23 (compared to $120.5 million in 3Q23 and $11.5 million in 2Q23) contributed to the YoY growth in core noninterest income; the Company earns fee income on back-to-back swap loan closings
• Net gains (losses) from fair value adjustments were $0.9 million in 4Q23 ($0.02 per share, net of tax), $(1.2) million in 3Q23 ($(0.03) per share, net of tax), $0.3 million in 2Q23 ($0.01 per share, net of tax), $2.6 million in 1Q23 ($0.06 per share, net of tax), and $(0.6) million in 4Q22 ($(0.02) per share, net of tax)
• Life insurance proceeds were $0.7 million in 4Q23 ($0.02 per share), $23,000 in 3Q23 (less than $0.01 per share), $0.6 million ($0.02 per share) in 2Q23, and $0.3 million ($0.01 per share) in 4Q22
• Loss on the sale of securities was $10.9 million ($0.27 per share, net of tax) in 4Q22 as the Company sold $84.2 million of mortgage-based securities with an approximate yield of 1.17%; proceeds were primarily reinvested in 1Q23 into floating rate securities that had a yield at that time approximating 6.40%
• Absent the items in the previous three bullets and other immaterial adjustments, core noninterest income was $5.8 million in 4Q23, up 64.4% YoY and 28.0% QoQ
• 4Q23 other fee income includes net realized gains on the sale of assets and other dividends from nonqualified plans that are expected to normalize in future periods

Noninterest expense increased YoY and QoQ.

• 4Q23 noninterest expense was impacted by increasing DDA balances and strong loan production
• Seasonal compensation expense was $4.1 million in 1Q23; seasonal expenses are expected to be less than half in 1Q24
• Excluding the effects of immaterial adjustments, core operating expenses were $40.1 million in 4Q23, up 19.3% YoY, and 10.5% QoQ
• GAAP noninterest expense to average assets was 1.90% in 4Q23, 1.71% in 3Q23, 1.66% in 2Q23, 1.85% in 1Q23, and 1.58% in 4Q22

Provision for income taxes increased YoY and QoQ.

• The effective tax rate was 31.1% in 4Q23, 27.1% in 3Q23, 26.8% in 2Q23, 25.9% in 1Q23, and 20.0% in 4Q22
• The 4Q23 effective tax rate increased as a result of preferential tax items having a smaller impact due to higher pre-tax income than estimated in 3Q23 and 2Q23; the 4Q22 effective tax rate had preferential tax items that had a larger impact as a result of lower levels of pre-tax income

Average loans decreased YoY but increased QoQ.

• Period end net loans totaled $6.9 billion, down 0.4% YoY, but up 0.1% QoQ
• Total loan closings were $244.3 million in 4Q23, $241.5 million in 3Q23, $158.8 million in 2Q23, $173.5 million in 1Q23, and $225.2 million in 4Q22; the loan pipeline was $163.1 million at December 31, 2023, down 35.3% YoY and 55.1% QoQ
• The diversified loan portfolio is approximately 89% collateralized by real estate with an average loan-to-value ratio of less than 36%
• Manhattan office buildings exposure is minimal at 0.6% of net loans

Average total deposits increased YoY and QoQ.

• Average noninterest bearing deposits decreased 10.9% YoY, but increased 2.5% QoQ and comprised 12.7% of average total deposits in 4Q23 compared to 14.7% a year ago

• Average CDs totaled $2.3 billion, up 73.3% YoY and 2.2% QoQ; approximately $408.6 million of non-swapped CDs are due to mature at a rate of 3.20% in 1Q24

Credit Quality: Nonperforming loans declined YoY but increased QoQ.

• Criticized and classified loans were 111 bps of gross loans at 4Q23 compared to 108 bps at 3Q23, 71 bps at 2Q23, 84 bps at 1Q23, and 98 bps at 4Q22
• Allowance for credit losses were 159.5% of nonperforming loans at 4Q23 compared to 124.9% at 4Q22 and 225.4% at 3Q23

Capital: Book value per common share and tangible book value per common share, a non-GAAP measure, both increased 1.0% YoY and 0.7% QoQ to $23.21 and $22.54, respectively.

• The Company paid a dividend of $0.22 per share in 4Q23; repurchased 38,815 shares in 4Q23 at an average price of $15.08, representing a 33% discount to tangible book value; 807,964 shares remaining subject to repurchase under the authorized stock repurchase program, which has no expiration or maximum dollar limit
• Tangible common equity to tangible assets was 7.64% at December 31, 2023, compared to 7.82% at December 31, 2022, and 7.56% at September 30, 2023

Conference Call Information:

• John R. Buran, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tom Buonaiuto, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief of Staff, and Deposit Channel Executive, and Susan K. Cullen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, will host a conference call on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 11:00 AM (ET) to discuss the Company’s fourth quarter and full year results and strategy.
• Dial-in for Live Call: 1-877-509-5836; Canada 855-669-9657
• Webcast: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=VQZ8mq4o
• Dial-in for Replay: 1-877-344-7529; Canada 855-669-9658
• Replay Access Code: 6289639
• The conference call will be simultaneously webcast and archived

First Quarter 2024 Earnings Release Date:

The Company plans to release First Quarter 2024 financial results after the market close on April 23, 2024; followed by a conference call at 9:30 AM (ET) on April 24, 2024.

A detailed announcement will be issued prior to the first quarter’s close confirming the date and time of the earnings release.

About Flushing Financial Corporation

Flushing Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: FFIC) is the holding company for Flushing Bank®, an FDIC insured, New York State—chartered commercial bank that operates banking offices in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and on Long Island. The Bank has been building relationships with families, business owners, and communities since 1929. Today, it offers the products, services, and conveniences associated with large commercial banks, including a full complement of deposit, loan, equipment finance, and cash management services. Rewarding customers with personalized attention and bankers that can communicate in the languages prevalent within these multicultural markets is what makes the Bank uniquely different. As an Equal Housing Lender and leader in real estate lending, the Bank’s experienced lending teams create mortgage solutions for real estate owners and property managers both within and outside the New York City metropolitan area. The Bank also fosters relationships with consumers nationwide through its online banking division with the iGObanking® and BankPurely® brands.

Additional information on Flushing Bank and Flushing Financial Corporation may be obtained by visiting the Company’s website at FlushingBank.com. Flushing Financial Corporation’s earnings release and presentation slides will be available prior to the conference call at www.FlushingBank.com under Investor Relations.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this Press Release relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, risk factors discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and in other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “expects”, “plans”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimates”, “predicts”, “forecasts”, “goals”, “potential” or “continue” or similar terms or the negative of these terms. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. The Company has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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