KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 2024-- SmartFinancial, Inc. ("SmartFinancial" or the "Company"; NYSE: SMBK), today announced net income of $9.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2024, compared to net income of $2.1 million, or $0.12 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2023, and compared to prior quarter net income of $8.0 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share. Operating earnings¹, which excludes non-recurring income, net of tax adjustments, totaled $9.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $7.2 million, or $0.43 per diluted common share, in the third quarter of 2023, and compared to $7.8 million, or $0.46 per diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2024.

Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2024

• Operating earnings¹ of $9.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted common share
• Net organic loan and lease growth of $144 million with 16% annualized quarter-over-quarter increase
• Quarter-over-quarter net tax equivalent interest margin expansion of 14 basis points to 3.11%
• 19% annualized quarter-over-quarter increase in tangible book value per common share¹
• Credit quality remains solid with nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.26%
• Established a Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) subsidiary as a tax saving strategy

Billy Carroll, President & CEO, stated: “As we talked about last quarter, the sales energy throughout our Company remains very positive as demonstrated by our 16% quarterly annualized loan and lease growth. Margin continues to inflect, up another 14 basis points to 3.11% for the quarter, and we continue to position our balance sheet for optimized returns. Credit quality remained strong, and I am pleased with our diligence around expense control. As we look ahead, we are confident in our ability to further enhance profitability and deliver strong tangible book value per share growth.”

SmartFinancial's Chairman, Miller Welborn, concluded: “This quarter was a further demonstration of our team’s ability to execute our plan. The Board was especially pleased with the Company’s operating leverage expansion and quarterly tangible book value per share growth of nearly 9% annualized. And while financial results are important, we don’t take for granted SmartBank’s incredible culture. SmartBank’s certification as a Great Place to Work by over 94% of its employee base is a tremendous honor and we look forward to continuing our tradition of being a premier employment destination.”

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income was $35.0 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $32.8 million for the prior quarter. Average earning assets totaled $4.5 billion for the current and prior quarters. The categories of average earnings assets changed quarter-over-quarter, primarily from an increase in average loans and leases of $130.5 million, offset by a decrease in average securities of $15.7 million and average interest-earning cash of $79.2 million. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $21.4 million from the prior quarter, primarily attributable to an increase in average borrowings of $40.9 million, offset by a decrease in average deposits of $18.2 million.

The tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.11% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 2.97% for the prior quarter. The tax equivalent net interest margin was positively impacted by the increased yield on interest-earning assets, quarter-over-quarter, coupled with no change in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, quarter-over-quarter. The yield on loans and leases, excluding loan fees, on a fully tax equivalent basis (“FTE”) was 5.95% for the third quarter, compared to 5.80% for the prior quarter.

The cost of total deposits for the third quarter of 2024 was 2.54% compared to 2.56% in the prior quarter. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 3.29% for the third quarter of 2024 and the prior quarter. The cost of average interest-bearing deposits was 3.20% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 3.23% for the prior quarter, a decrease of 3 basis points.

The following table presents selected interest rates and yields for the periods indicated:

Provision for Credit Losses on Loans and Leases and Credit Quality

At September 30, 2024, the allowance for credit losses was $35.6 million. The allowance for credit losses to total loans and leases was 0.96% as of September 30, 2024, compared to 0.97% as of June 30, 2024.

The following table presents detailed information related to the provision for credit losses for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

Nonperforming loans and leases as a percentage of total loans and leases was 0.26% as of September 30, 2024, an increase of 7 basis points from the 0.19% reported in the second quarter of 2024. Total nonperforming assets (which include nonaccrual loans and leases, loans and leases past due 90 days or more and still accruing, other real estate owned and other repossessed assets) as a percentage of total assets was 0.26% as of September 30, 2024, and 0.20% as of June 30, 2024.

The following table presents detailed information related to credit quality for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income increased $1.5 million to $9.1 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $7.6 million for the prior quarter. The current quarter increase was primarily associated with a $579 thousand increase in investment services from a higher volume of investment activity, a $193 thousand increase in insurance commissions from new policies and renewals and a $607 thousand increase in other from fees related to capital markets activity.

The following table presents detailed information related to noninterest income for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense increased $1.6 million to $30.8 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $29.2 million for the prior quarter. The current quarter increase was primarily related to an increase in salaries and employee benefits related to incentive accruals for production performance.

The following table presents detailed information related to noninterest expense for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense was $1.6 million for the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of $721 thousand, compared to $2.3 million for the prior quarter. The decrease was due to a reduction in the Bank’s annual state income tax expense as a result of the establishment of the Bank’s newly formed REIT. The REIT will create a more tax-effective structure that will result in a lower effective tax rate during future periods by lowering the Bank’s state income tax expense.

Balance Sheet Trends

Total assets at September 30, 2024 were $4.91 billion compared to $4.83 billion at December 31, 2023. The $79.5 million increase is primarily attributable to increases loans and leases of $273.0 million and bank owned life insurance of $21.6 million, offset by a decrease in securities of $60.5 million and cash and cash equivalents of $159.4 million.

Total liabilities were $4.42 billion at September 30, 2024, compared to $4.37 billion at December 31, 2023, an increase of $50.4 million. Total deposits increased $54.6 million, which was driven primarily by the issuance of brokered deposits of $174.8 million, increase in other time deposits of $44.3 million and savings deposits of $42.4 million, offset by a decline in interest-bearing demand deposits of $172.7 million and noninterest bearing deposits of $34 million. Other liabilities increased $2.3 million, which was offset by a decrease in borrowings of $4.1 million and subordinated debt of $2.4 million. During the quarter, the Bank elected not to pursue a higher cost public funds depository relationship and utilized Federal Home Loan Advances temporarily, which was replaced with brokered deposits.

Shareholders' equity at September 30, 2024, totaled $489.0 million, an increase of $29.1 million, from December 31, 2023. The increase in shareholders' equity was primarily driven by net income of $26.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and a positive change of $8.6 million in accumulated other comprehensive income, offset by dividends paid of $4.1 million. Tangible book value per share² was $22.67 at September 30, 2024, compared to $20.76 at December 31, 2023. Tangible common equity¹ as a percentage of tangible assets¹ was 7.99% at September 30, 2024, compared with 7.47% at December 31, 2023.

The following table presents selected balance sheet information for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

Conference Call Information

SmartFinancial issued this earnings release for the third quarter of 2024 on Monday, October 21, 2024, and will host a conference call on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. ET. To access this interactive teleconference, dial (833) 470-1428 or (404) 975-4839 and entering the access code, 599429. A replay of the conference call will be available through December 21, 2024, by dialing (866) 813-9403 or (929) 458-6194 and entering the access code, 195203. Conference call materials will be published on the Company’s webpage located at http://www.smartfinancialinc.com/CorporateProfile, at 9:00 a.m. ET prior to the conference call.

About SmartFinancial, Inc.

SmartFinancial, Inc., based in Knoxville, Tennessee, is the bank holding company for SmartBank. SmartBank is a full-service commercial bank founded in 2007, with branches across Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. Recruiting the best people, delivering exceptional client service, strategic branching, and a disciplined approach to lending have contributed to SmartBank’s success. More information about SmartFinancial can be found on its website: www.smartfinancialinc.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Statements included in this earnings release include measures not recognized under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and therefore are considered Non-GAAP financial measures (“Non-GAAP”) and should be read along with the accompanying tables, which provide a reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures. SmartFinancial management uses several Non-GAAP financial measures and ratios derived therefrom in its analysis of the Company's performance, including:

1. Operating earnings
2. Operating noninterest income
3. Operating noninterest expense
4. Operating pre-provision net revenue (“PPNR”) earnings
5. Tangible common equity
6. Average tangible common equity
7. Tangible book value per common share
8. Tangible assets

Operating earnings, operating noninterest income, operating noninterest expense and operating PPNR earnings exclude non-operating related income and expense items from net income, noninterest income and noninterest expense, respectively. Tangible common equity and average tangible common equity exclude goodwill and other intangible assets from shareholders' equity and average shareholders' equity, respectively. Tangible book value per common share is tangible common equity divided by common shares outstanding. Tangible assets excludes goodwill and other intangibles from total assets. A detailed reconciliation of these items and the ratios derived therefrom is available in the Non-GAAP reconciliations.

Management believes that Non-GAAP financial measures provide additional useful information that allows investors to evaluate the ongoing performance of the company and provide meaningful comparisons to its peers. Management also believes these Non-GAAP financial measures enhance investors' ability to compare period-to-period financial results and allow investors and company management to view our operating results excluding the impact of items that are not reflective of the underlying operating performance.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as an alternative to any measure of performance or financial condition as promulgated under GAAP, and investors should consider SmartFinancial's performance and financial condition as reported under GAAP and all other relevant information when assessing the performance or financial condition of the company. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of the results or financial condition as reported under GAAP.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain statements that are based on management’s current estimates or expectations of future events or future results, and that may be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not historical in nature and can generally be identified by such words as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “may,” “estimate,” and similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results of SmartFinancial to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others,

1. risks associated with our growth strategy, including a failure to implement our growth plans or an inability to manage our growth effectively;
2. claims and litigation arising from our business activities and from the companies we acquire, which may relate to contractual issues, environmental laws, fiduciary responsibility, and other matters;
3. general risks related to our merger and acquisition activity, including risks associated with our pursuit of future acquisitions;
4. changes in management’s plans for the future;
5. prevailing, or changes in, economic or political conditions, particularly in our market areas, including the effects of declines in the real estate market, high unemployment rates, inflationary pressures, elevated interest rates and slowdowns in economic growth, as well as the financial stress on borrowers as a result of the foregoing;
6. our ability to anticipate interest rate changes and manage interest rate risk (including the impact of higher interest rates on macroeconomic conditions, competition, and the cost of doing business and the impact of interest rate fluctuations on our financial projections, models and guidance);
7. increased technology and cybersecurity risks, including generative artificial intelligence risks;
8. credit risk associated with our lending activities;
9. changes in loan demand, real estate values, or competition;
10. developments in our mortgage banking business, including loan modifications, general demand, and the effects of judicial or regulatory requirements or guidance;
11. changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines;
12. changes in applicable laws, rules, or regulations;
13. adverse results from current or future litigation, regulatory examinations or other legal and/or regulatory actions;
14. potential impacts of adverse developments in the banking industry highlighted by high-profile bank failures, including impacts on customer confidence, deposit outflows, liquidity and the regulatory response thereto;
15. significant turbulence or a disruption in the capital or financial markets and the effect of a fall in stock market prices on our investment securities;
16. the effects of war or other conflicts including the impacts related to or resulting from Russia’s military action in Ukraine or the conflict in Israel and surrounding areas; and
17. other general competitive, economic, political, and market factors, including those affecting our business, operations, pricing, products, or services.

These and other factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in SmartFinancial’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K, in each case filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and available on the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. SmartFinancial disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this release, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.