CB Financial Services, Inc. (“CB” or the “Company”) (NASDAQGM: CBFV), the holding company of Community Bank (the “Bank”) and Exchange Underwriters, Inc. (“EU”), a wholly-owned insurance subsidiary of the Bank, today announced its second quarter and year-to-date 2021 financial results.

(1) Refer to Explanation of Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and reconciliation of net (loss) income and adjusted earnings per common share - diluted in this Press Release.

2021 Second Quarter Financial Highlights

(Comparisons to three months ended June 30, 2020)

• Net loss was $223,000, compared to net income of $2.9 million, largely due to the write-down of fixed assets and intangible assets impairment ($3.4 million including tax effect) relating to the Bank’s previously announced branch optimization initiatives, which are excluded in the Company’s adjusted financial results.
  • Adjusted net income (non-GAAP) was $3.2 million, compared to adjusted net income of $2.5 million.
• Loss per diluted common share (EPS) decreased to $0.04 from earnings per share of $0.54.
  • Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted (non-GAAP) was $0.59, compared to $0.46.
• Loss on average assets (annualized) of 0.06%, compared to return on average assets (annualized) of 0.85%.
  • Adjusted return on average assets (annualized) (non-GAAP) of 0.87%, compared to 0.73%.
• Loss on average equity (annualized) of 0.66%, compared return on average equity (annualized) to 7.65%.
  • Adjusted return on average equity (annualized) (non-GAAP) of 9.57%, compared to 6.57%.
• Net interest margin decreased to 2.84% from 3.28%.
• Net interest and dividend income was $9.9 million, compared to $10.3 million.
• Noninterest income was $2.2 million, compared to $2.6 million.

(Amounts at June 30, 2021; comparisons to December 31, 2020)

• Total loans including Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and loans held for sale were $1.02 billion, a decrease of $25.9 million.
• Total loans including loans held for sale and excluding PPP loans were $969.3 million, a decrease of $20.3 million.
• Total deposits including deposits held for sale were $1.28 billion, an increase of $51.5 million.
• Total assets increased to a record $1.46 billion, compared to $1.42 billion.
• Book value per share was $24.50, compared to $24.76.
• Tangible book value per share (Non-GAAP) increased to $21.56, compared to $21.42.

Branch Optimization and Operational Efficiency Update

CB continues to make progress related to the previously announced branch optimization and operational efficiency initiatives. These initiatives include the consolidation of six branches that was completed on June 30, 2021, the sale of two branches expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter of 2021 and implementation of operational efficiencies related to over 185 individualized processes within its branch network and operating environment that are designed to improve the Bank’s infrastructure, client experience, efficiency and profitability.

CB presently expects to incur $7.9 million of non-recurring expenses in 2021 and, as of June 30, 2021, has incurred $5.1 million of expenses related to these items. The expenses include $2.3 million writedown on fixed assets and $1.2 million impairment of intangible assets associated with the branch consolidations and sales.

In addition, as part of CB’s branch optimization and operational efficiency initiatives, the Company incurred $1.6 million of expenses related to contracted services, employee severance costs, branch lease impairment, professional fees, data processing fees, legal and other expenses.

The majority of the remaining expenses to be recognized in 2021 are related to the operational and revenue efficiency initiative of approximately $1.5 million that will be reflected in contracted services. CB anticipates savings from this initiative ranging from approximately $2.5 million to $3.5 million in 2022, as well as creating possible enhanced revenue and fee generating capacity in future years.

In addition, the Company expects an annual reduction in pre-tax operating expenses in 2021 of approximately $1.0 million, along with $3.0 million of ongoing pre-tax cost savings as a result of the branch optimization initiatives. The Company expects these ongoing savings to be incremental to net income beginning in 2022. This estimated cost excludes the favorable impact of the expected premium from sale of branches expected to be recognized in the fourth quarter of 2021 and currently estimated to be $5.1 million.

Management Commentary

President and CEO John H. Montgomery stated, “The Company reported an increase in adjusted net income during the period, which was largely driven by economic recovery in our core markets in Southwestern Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley. We were pleased to have only a moderate decline in loan volumes during the recovery, with steady growth in commercial construction and stabilizing auto originations despite lower dealer supplies. Growing our lending business, while expanding core deposit relationships, continues to be a priority for the remainder of the year. We continue to capitalize on successful deposit gathering initiatives to further reduce our cost of funds. Given the current tightening NIM environment, we are hyper-focused on reducing costs and expenses at the bank.”

Mr. Montgomery continued, “We remain focused on executing our previously-announced branch optimization initiatives to strengthen our franchise. This resulted in identifying six branches that were consolidated, as well as announcing a Purchase and Assumption Agreement to sell two West Virginia branches by the end of the year, which allows for Community Bank to focus on its core markets as well as improve our efficiency efforts. We have implemented a number of strategies to take advantage of the continued speed of digital adoption in banking, which will improve CB’s ability to adapt to a changing consumer environment. We expect this to result in a more streamlined operating infrastructure, which we expect will help to drive better-than-peer operating returns for our shareholders in the future.”

Dividend Information

The Company’s Board of Directors has declared a $0.24 quarterly cash dividend per outstanding share of common stock, payable on or about August 31, 2021, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 20, 2021.

Stock Repurchase Program

On June 10, 2021, CB authorized a program to repurchase up to $7.5 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. The program is effective as of June 14, 2021 and authorized through June 13, 2022. As of July 23, 2021, the Company had expended $1.0 million to repurchase 45,462 shares at an average price of $22.38.

2021 Second Quarter Financial Review

Net Interest and Dividend Income

• Net interest and dividend income decreased $387,000, or 3.7%, to $9.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $10.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020.
• Net interest margin (FTE) (Non-GAAP) decreased 45 basis points (“bps”) to 2.85% for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to 3.30% for the three months ended June 30, 2020. Net interest margin (GAAP) decreased to 2.84% for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to 3.28% for the three months ended June 30, 2020. While CB has further controlled its deposit cost structure as deposit balances increased and benefited from nonrenewal or repricing of higher cost time deposits, the net interest margin has decreased primarily due to the low interest rate environment decreasing yields on loans and securities.
• Interest and dividend income decreased $907,000, or 7.7%, to $10.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $11.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020.
  • Interest income on loans decreased $641,000, or 6.1%, to $9.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $10.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. While average loans increased $2.9 million compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020, the average yield decreased 28 bps to 3.93%. Interest and fee income on PPP loans was $636,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 and contributed 3 bps to loan yield, compared to $316,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020, which decreased loan yield 7 bps in the prior period. The impact of the accretion of the credit mark on acquired loan portfolios was $153,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $90,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020, or 6 bps in the current period compared to 4 bps in the prior period.
  • Interest income on taxable investment securities decreased $305,000, or 32.4%, to $635,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $940,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020 driven by a $12.6 million decrease in average investment securities balances and 70 bps decrease in average yield. The Federal Reserve’s pandemic-driven decision to drop the benchmark interest rate in 2020 resulted in significant calls of U.S. government agency securities and paydowns on mortgage-backed securities in the declining interest rate environment, which were replaced with lower-yielding securities or maintained in cash.
  • Other interest and dividend income, which primarily consists of interest-bearing cash, increased $67,000, or 79.8% to $151,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $84,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. Average other interest-earning assets increased $149.4 million compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020 primarily from buildup of cash as a result of securities activity, PPP loan funds and government stimulus payments deposited with the Bank, although average yield declined 10 bps due to interest rate cuts on interest-earning cash deposits held at other financial institutions.
• Interest expense decreased $520,000, or 37.0%, to $886,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $1.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020.
  • Interest expense on deposits decreased $478,000, or 36.6%, to $827,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. While average interest-earning deposits increased $47.9 million compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020, interest rate declines for all products driven by pandemic-related market interest rate cuts resulted in a 25 bp, or 40.6%, decrease in average cost compared to the three months ended June 30, 2020. In addition, average time deposits and the related average cost decreased $28.3 million and 31 bps, respectively.

Provision for Loan Losses

Provision for loan losses was a recovery of $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to a provision of $300,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2020. A $23.4 million decrease in net reservable loans in the current quarter, which excludes PPP loans and includes the reclassification of $11.4 million of loans to held for sale, along with a decrease in specific reserves on impaired loans and improvements in the economic and industry outlook contributed to the recovery in the current period.

Noninterest income

Noninterest income decreased $429,000, or 16.2%, to $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, compared to $2.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The decrease was largely due to lower net gains on securities and loans compared to the prior period, offset by an increase in other income due to the recognition of a $269,000 valuation allowance adjustment on mortgage servicing rights in the prior period and increase in service fees.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense increased $4.7 million, or 51.3%, to $13.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $9.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2020. The increase was largely due to the aforementioned $2.3 million writedown of fixed assets and $1.2 million intangible asset impairment associated with the branch consolidation and sale initiative, as well as $1.3 million of expenses incurred in the current quarter related to various other costs associated with strategic initiatives such as employee severance, contracted services, lease impairment, and legal and investment banker fees.

Statement of Financial Condition Review

Assets

Total assets increased $44.9 million, or 3.2%, to $1.46 billion at June 30, 2021, compared to $1.42 billion at December 31, 2020. The change is primarily due to higher cash and due from banks and securities.

• Cash and due from banks increased $11.1 million, or 6.9%, to $172.0 million at June 30, 2021, compared to $160.9 million at December 31, 2020. The change is primarily due to an increase in deposits as further described below in the Liabilities section.
• Securities increased $63.1 million, or 43.4%, to $208.5 million at June 30, 2021, compared to $145.4 million at December 31, 2020. Current period activity included $97.1 million of mortgage-backed securities and U.S. government agency securities purchases, $20.4 million of paydowns on mortgage-backed securities, and $11.9 million of mortgage-backed securities sales, which resulted in the recognition of a $225,000 gain on the sale of securities. The purchases were made to earn a higher yield on excess cash. The sales recognized gains on higher-interest securities with faster prepayment speeds. In addition, there was a $2.2 million decrease in the market value of the debt securities portfolio and a $233,000 gain in market value in the equity securities portfolio, which is primarily comprised of bank stocks.

Payroll Protection Program (“PPP”) Update

• PPP loans decreased $5.6 million to $49.5 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $55.1 million at December 31, 2020, which includes $34.6 million in originations in the current period offset by loan forgiveness.
• $1.1 million of net PPP loan origination fees were unearned at December 31, 2020. Due to activity in the current period, $1.4 million of net PPP loan origination fees were unearned at June 30, 2021. $489,000 of net PPP loan origination fees were earned in the second quarter of 2021 compared to $535,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

   

Loans and Credit Quality

• Total loans held for investment decreased $37.3 million to $1.01 billion at June 30, 2021. This includes the impact of reclassifying $11.4 million of loans to held for sale. Excluding the net decline of $5.6 million in PPP loans in the current period and including $11.4 million of held for sale loans, loans declined $20.3 million.
• The allowance for loan losses was $11.5 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $12.8 million at December 31, 2020. There was a net recovery of $1.2 million of provision for loan losses in the current quarter. A $31.7 million decrease in net reservable loans in the current period, which excludes PPP loans and includes the reclassification of $11.4 million of loans to held for sale that do not require a reserve, as well as a decrease in specifically impaired loans and improving economic and industry conditions contributed to the net recovery in the current period. As a result, the allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.15% at June 30, 2021 compared to 1.22% at December 31, 2020. The allowance for loan losses to total loans, excluding PPP loans, was 1.21% at June 30, 2021 compared to 1.29% at December 31, 2020.
• Net recoveries for the three months ended June 30, 2021 were $19,000, or (0.01)% of average loans on an annualized basis. Net recoveries for the three months ended June 30, 2020 were $26,000, or (0.01)% of average loans on an annualized basis. Net charge-offs for the six months ended June 30, 2021 were $27,000, or 0.01% of average loans on an annualized basis. Net charge-offs for the six months ended June 30, 2020 were $19,000, or 0.00% of average loans on an annualized basis.
• Nonperforming loans, which includes nonaccrual loans, accruing loans past due 90 days or more, and accruing loans that are considered troubled debt restructurings, were $15.4 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $14.5 million at December 31, 2020. Nonperforming loans to total loans ratio was 1.53% at June 30, 2021 compared to 1.39% at December 31, 2020.
• There were nine loans in forbearance totaling $7.8 million at June 30, 2021 compared to 25 loans totaling $18.4 million at March 31, 2021, and 31 loans totaling $24.1 million at December 31, 2021. The remaining loans exit forbearance in July and have begun or are expected to begin making regularly scheduled payments.

Liabilities

Total liabilities increased $46.9 million, or 3.7%, to $1.33 billion at June 30, 2021 compared to $1.28 billion at December 31, 2020.

Deposits

• Total deposits, including deposits held for sale, increased $51.5 million to $1.28 billion as of June 30, 2021 compared to $1.22 billion at December 31, 2020. Noninterest bearing demand deposits, NOW accounts and savings accounts increased $44.0 million, $16.5 million and $12.9 million, respectively, partially offset by a decrease of $17.0 million in time deposits. IRS and stimulus-related payments totaled $29.9 million in the first quarter and the impact of the PPP loans that were originated and the proceeds of which were initially deposited at the Bank was approximately $28.7 million. Annualized deposit growth rate was 8.4% including IRS and PPP loan deposits. Average total deposits increased $54.9 million, primarily in noninterest and interest-bearing demand deposits, for the three months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021.

Borrowed Funds

• Short-term borrowings decreased $2.0 million, or 4.9%, to $39.1 million at June 30, 2021, compared to $41.1 million at December 31, 2020. At June 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, short-term borrowings were comprised entirely of securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which are related to business deposit customers whose funds, above designated target balances, are transferred into an overnight interest-earning investment account by purchasing securities from the Bank’s investment portfolio under an agreement to repurchase. $10.1 million was excluded from short-term borrowings at June 30, 2021 and reported as deposits held for sale.
• Other borrowed funds decreased $2.0 million to $6.0 million at June 30, 2021 due to a Federal Home Loan Bank borrowing that matured in the current period.

   

Stockholders’ Equity

Stockholders’ equity decreased $2.0 million, or 1.5%, to $132.5 million at June 30, 2021, compared to $134.5 million at December 31, 2020. Accumulated other comprehensive income decreased $1.7 million primarily due to market interest rate conditions on the Bank’s debt securities. In addition, the Company repurchased $561,000 of its common stock as part of its stock repurchase program.

Book value per share

Book value per share was $24.50 at June 30, 2021 compared to $24.76 at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $0.26. Tangible book value per share (Non-GAAP) increased $0.14 to $21.56 compared to $21.42 at December 31, 2020. Refer to “Explanation of Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this Press Release.

About CB Financial Services, Inc.

CB Financial Services, Inc. is the bank holding company for Community Bank, a Pennsylvania-chartered commercial bank. Community Bank operates its branch network in southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Community Bank offers a broad array of retail and commercial lending and deposit services and provides commercial and personal insurance brokerage services through Exchange Underwriters, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary.

For more information about CB Financial Services, Inc. and Community Bank, visit our website at www.communitybank.tv.

Statement About Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and such forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in the Act. The Company’s ability to predict results or the actual effect of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the operations and future prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries include, but are not limited to, general and local economic conditions, the scope and duration of economic contraction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Company’s business and that of the Company’s customers, changes in market interest rates, deposit flows, demand for loans, real estate values and competition, competitive products and pricing, the ability of our customers to make scheduled loan payments, loan delinquency rates and trends, our ability to manage the risks involved in our business, our ability to control costs and expenses, inflation, market and monetary fluctuations, changes in federal and state legislation and regulation applicable to our business, actions by our competitors, and other factors that may be disclosed in the Company’s periodic reports as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.