CLARKSVILLE, Ind., Nov. 19, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Savings Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSFG - news) (the "Company"), the holding company for First Savings Bank (the "Bank"), today reported net income of $16.2 million, or $6.82 per diluted share, for the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to net income of $10.9 million, or $4.60 per diluted share, for the year ended September 30, 2018, resulting in an increase of 48% on a per share basis. 

Commenting on the Company’s quarterly performance, Larry W. Myers, President and CEO, stated: “We are very pleased with the Company’s performance for the quarter and the fiscal year, including record earnings for the year, exceptional asset growth, robust deposit growth, and strong contributions to earnings from the mortgage banking and U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) lending segments.  The core banking, mortgage banking and SBA lending segments continue to grow significantly and the lending pipelines for each are very healthy entering into our new fiscal year.”

Net interest income increased $4.3 million, or 11.9%, to $40.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2019 as compared to 2018.  The increase in net interest income is due to an $8.8 million increase in interest income, which was partially offset by a $4.6 million increase in interest expense. Interest income increased due to an increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets of $132.4 million, from $929.2 million for 2018 to $1.06 billion for 2019, and an increase in the weighted average tax-equivalent yield, from 4.67% for 2018 to 4.91% for 2019.  Interest expense increased due to an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities of $106.3 million, from $743.3 million for 2018 to $849.6 million for 2019, and an increase in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities, from 0.85% for 2018 to 1.28% for 2019.  These increases for the 2019 fiscal year included an increase in subordinated debt interest expense of $1.2 million, including amortization of debt issuance costs, and an increase of $19.1 million in subordinated debt included in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities, net of debt issuance costs.  The increase in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for 2019 was due primarily to increasing market interest rates on deposits and short-term funding alternatives including FHLB advances and brokered deposits, and the subordinated debt’s average cost of 6.48%, including amortization of debt issuance costs.  Additional details are included in the “Summarized Consolidated Average Balance Sheets” table at the end of this release. 

The Company recognized $1.5 million in provision for loan losses for the year ended September 30, 2019, compared to $1.4 million in provision for loan losses recognized in 2018.  Nonperforming loans, which consist of nonaccrual loans and loans over 90 days past due and still accruing interest, increased $907,000, from $4.3 million at September 30, 2018 to $5.2 million at September 30, 2019.  The Company recognized net charge-offs of $746,000 for the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $122,000 in 2018.  The increase in net charge-offs is due primarily to charge-offs of the unguaranteed portions of SBA loans. 

Noninterest income increased $30.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2019 as compared to 2018.  The increase was due primarily to an increase in mortgage banking income of $30.7 million and a $589,000 increase in real estate lease income.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the net gain on sale of loans guaranteed by the SBA of $924,000.  The increase in mortgage banking income is due to production from the secondary-market residential mortgage lending segment that commenced operations in April 2018.  The Bank’s SBA lending activities are performed under Q2 Business Capital, LLC (“Q2”), which specializes in the origination and servicing of SBA loans.  The Bank owns 51% of Q2 with the option to purchase the minority interest in September 2020.  Gross revenues and expenses related to Q2 are reported in the consolidated statements of income and the net income or net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests is then subtracted (in the case of net income) or added (in the case of net loss) to arrive at net income attributable to the Company.  Additional details regarding the financial performance of the mortgage banking and SBA lending segments are included in the “Segmented Statements of Income Information” table at the end of this release. 

Noninterest expense increased $29.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2019 as compared to 2018.  The increase was due primarily to increases in compensation and benefits, occupancy and equipment, and other operating expense of $23.2 million, $2.5 million and $2.0 million, respectively.  The increase in compensation and benefits expense is attributable to the addition of new employees to support the growth of the Company, including its mortgage banking and SBA lending activities, and normal salary and benefits adjustments.  The increase in occupancy and equipment expense is primarily attributable to increases in lease and rental, depreciation and equipment, and software licensing expenses that are all primarily related to the mortgage banking segment.

The Company recognized income tax expense of $3.1 million for the year ended September 30, 2019, for an effective tax rate of 15.4%, as compared to income tax expense of $2.4 million, for an effective tax rate of 16.4%, for 2018.

Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018

The Company reported net income of $5.3 million, or $2.24 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to net income of $2.7 million, or $1.15 per diluted share, for the three months ended September 30, 2018, resulting in an increase of 95% on a per share basis.  Net income for the quarter ended September 30, 2018 was negatively impacted by a loss of $109,000, net of taxes, related to the new secondary-market mortgage lending division and decreased income from SBA lending activities.

Net interest income increased $1.2 million, or 12.9%, to $10.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018.  The increase in net interest income is due to a $2.4 million increase in interest income, which was partially offset by a $1.2 million increase in interest expense. Interest income increased due to an increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets of $151.8 million, from $976.6 million for 2018 to $1.13 billion for 2019, and an increase in the weighted-average tax-equivalent yield, from 4.79% for 2018 to 5.00% for 2019.  Interest expense increased due to an increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities of $143.2 million, from $765.5 million for 2018 to $908.7 million for 2019, and an increase in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities, from 0.96% for 2018 to 1.35% for 2019.  These increases for the three months ended September 30, 2019, included an increase in subordinated debt interest expense of $285,000, including amortization of debt issuance costs, and an increase of $17.4 million in subordinated debt included in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities, net of debt issuance costs.  The increase in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was due primarily to increasing market interest rates on deposits and short-term funding alternatives including FHLB advances and brokered deposits and the subordinated debt’s average cost of 6.45%, including amortization of debt issuance costs.  Additional details are included in the “Summarized Consolidated Average Balance Sheets” table at the end of this release.    

The Company recognized $471,000 in provision for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2019, compared to $254,000 in provision for loan losses recognized in the same period in 2018.  The Company recognized net charge-offs of $47,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2019 compared to net recoveries of $43,000 for the same period in 2018.   

Noninterest income increased $13.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018.  The increase was due primarily to an increase in mortgage banking income of $13.0 million and an increase in gain the sale of SBA loans of $661,000 when compared to the same period in 2018.  The increase in mortgage banking income is due to production from the secondary-market residential mortgage lending segment that commenced operations in April 2018.  Additional details regarding the financial performance of the mortgage banking and SBA lending segments are included in the “Segmented Statements of Income Information” table at the end of this release. 

Noninterest expense increased $11.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018.  The increase was due primarily to increases in compensation and benefits, advertising, and occupancy and equipment expenses of $9.5 million, $711,000 and $707,000, respectively.  The increase in compensation and benefits expense is attributable to the addition of new employees to support the growth of the Company, including its mortgage banking and SBA lending activities, and normal salary and benefits adjustments.  The increase in advertising is primarily due to the new mortgage banking segment.  The increase in occupancy and equipment expense is primarily attributable to increases in lease and rental, depreciation and equipment, and software licensing expenses that are all primarily related to the new mortgage banking segment. 

The Company recognized income tax expense of $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, for an effective tax rate of 19.4%, as compared to income tax expense of $766,000, for an effective tax rate of 20.6%, for the same period in 2018. 

Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018

Total assets increased $188.2 million, from $1.03 billion at September 30, 2018 to $1.22 billion at September 30, 2019.  Net loans increased $106.4 million during the year ended September 30, 2019, due primarily to continued growth in the commercial real estate and SBA loan portfolios.  Residential mortgage loans held for sale also increased by $70.0 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 due to increased production from the mortgage banking segment.  Total liabilities increased $167.2 million primarily due to a $132.5 million increase in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings and a $23.3 million increase in total deposits.

Common stockholders’ equity increased $22.3 million, from $98.8 million at September 30, 2018 to $121.1 million at September 30, 2019, due primarily to retained net income of $14.7 million and net unrealized gains of $6.9 million on the available-for-sale securities portfolio.  At September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the Bank was considered “well-capitalized” under applicable regulatory capital guidelines.

Prior Period Restatement

On November 19, 2019, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K to report the Company’s conclusion that its interim consolidated financial statements, and related notes, contained in its Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2019 should no longer be relied upon.  The accounting matters underlying this conclusion relate primarily to significant accounting assumptions used in the fair value calculations for interest rate lock commitments and mortgage loans held-for-sale relating to the Company’s mortgage banking operations segment and unrecognized accruals for incentive compensation related to such segment.  All financial information at June 30, 2019 and for periods then ended contained in this earnings release have been restated accordingly.

First Savings Bank has fifteen offices in the Indiana communities of Clarksville, Jeffersonville, Charlestown, Sellersburg, New Albany, Georgetown, Corydon, Lanesville, Elizabeth, English, Marengo, Salem, Odon and Montgomery.  Access to First Savings Bank accounts, including online banking and electronic bill payments, is available anywhere with Internet access through the Bank's website at www.fsbbank.net.

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are not historical facts; rather, they are statements based on the Company's current expectations regarding its business strategies and their intended results and its future performance. Forward-looking statements are preceded by terms such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends" and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Numerous risks and uncertainties could cause or contribute to the Company's actual results, performance and achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause or contribute to these differences include, without limitation, changes in general economic conditions, including changes in market interest rates and changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; legislative and regulatory changes; and other factors disclosed periodically in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Because of the risks and uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on them, whether included in this report or made elsewhere from time to time by the Company or on its behalf.  Except as may be required by applicable law or regulation, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contact:
Tony A. Schoen, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
812-283-0724

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(1) See reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP financial measures for additional information relating to calculation of this item.

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED):

The following non-GAAP financial measures used by the Company provide information useful to investors in understanding the Company's performance.  The Company believes the financial measures presented below are important because of their widespread use by investors as a means to evaluate capital adequacy and earnings.  The following table summarizes the non-GAAP financial measures derived from amounts reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements and reconciles those non-GAAP financial measures with the comparable GAAP financial measures.

SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED):

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As previously discussed, financial information at June 30, 2019 and for periods then ended contained in this earnings release have been restated.

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(1) Net of commissions, referral fees, SBA repair fees and discounts on unguaranteed portions held-for-investment, and inclusive of gains on servicing assets

As previously discussed, financial information at June 30, 2019 and for periods then ended contained in this earnings release have been restated.

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(2) Net of lender credits and other investor expenses, and inclusive of loan fees, fair value adjustments and gains (losses) on derivative instruments

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As previously discussed, financial information at June 30, 2019 and for periods then ended contained in this earnings release have been restated.