BETHESDA, Md., July 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ: EGBN), the parent company of EagleBank (the "Bank"), today announced net income of $25.2 million for the second quarter 2022, compared to net income of $45.7 million for the prior quarter and $48.0 million for the year-ago quarter. Net income was $0.79 per share (basic) and $0.78 per share (diluted) for the second quarter 2022, compared to $1.43 per share (basic) and $1.42 per share (diluted) for the prior quarter and $1.50 per share (basic and diluted) for the year-ago quarter.

The decrease in earnings of $20.5 million from the first quarter of 2022 (the "prior quarter") was primarily driven by an increase in noninterest expense accruals related to the previously disclosed agreement in principle with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") staff to pay a civil money penalty and disgorgement, plus prejudgment interest, for an aggregate expense of $13.4 million¹ to resolve the SEC's investigation with respect to the Company, while the prior quarter included a reduction in noninterest expense accruals related to share-based compensation awards and deferred compensation to our former CEO and Chairman of $5.0 million.

Second Quarter 2022 Highlights

• The Company reached an agreement in principle with the SEC to resolve the previously disclosed investigation with respect to the Company. Under the terms of the settlement, the Company would pay a civil money penalty and disgorgement, plus prejudgment interest, in an aggregate amount of $13.4 million, which the Company accrued as non-tax deductible expenses during the quarter. Absent the agreement in principle with the SEC, adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) was $38.6 million² and adjusted earnings per share (a non-GAAP measure), was $1.20.²
• The Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, an increase of $0.05 over the prior quarter.
• Loans increased by $40.9 million from the prior quarter-end. This was the third consecutive quarterly increase.
• There was a $495 thousand provision for credit losses on loans. This was the first provision for credit losses after five consecutive quarterly reversals.
• The increase in the overall interest rate environment continued to create unrealized losses in securities available-for-sale ("AFS"), which are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As a result, combined with the reduction in net income, shareholders' equity, book value per share and tangible book value per share declined from the prior quarter-end.

CEO Commentary

Susan G. Riel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Bancorp, Inc. commented, "The results for the second quarter are encouraging as loan balances increased for a third consecutive quarter and asset quality metrics continue to improve."

"Additionally, our CRE and C&I pipelines remain strong as our lending teams continue to be active in their calling efforts. And on construction lending, even with the successful completion of projects, our unfunded commitments were up slightly to $2.3 billion at quarter-end. As more opportunities arise, our total risk-based capital of 15.81%, gives us ample room to continue to grow the loan portfolio."

"For our shareholders, we remain focused on increasing value and returning cash through dividends. At the end of the quarter, our board declared a dividend of $0.45 per share, which is an increase of $0.05 per share from the prior quarter."

"We once again thank all of our employees for their commitment in serving the needs of our clients and communities. Additionally, we remain committed to a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion in both the workplace and the communities we serve."

Income Statement

• Net interest income was $82.9 million for the second quarter 2022, compared to $80.5 million for the prior quarter and $84.6 million for the year-ago quarter. The increase in net interest income from the prior quarter was driven by higher average loans for the quarter, higher yield on loans as the overall rate environment increased, and higher rates on excess liquidity due to increased rates on excess reserves as well as deployment into investment securities. The combination of these three factors outpaced the increase in interest expense.
  
  
• Net interest margin was 2.94% for the second quarter 2022, compared to 2.65% for the prior quarter and 3.04% for the year-ago quarter. The increase in margin from the prior quarter was primarily attributable to a decrease in the average of low yielding interest earning assets associated with deposit outflows and an increase in average balances on loans and investments that have higher yields. The combined impact led to a greater increase in yield on earning assets over the increase in cost of funds.
  
  
  • The yield on interest earning assets, which includes the yield on securities, was 3.39% for the second quarter 2022 compared to 2.91% for the prior quarter and 3.41% for the year-ago quarter. This is an increase of 48 basis points from the prior quarter.
  • The yield on the loan portfolio was 4.51% for the second quarter 2022, compared to 4.35% for the prior quarter and 4.79% for the year-ago quarter. The increase of 16 basis points from the prior quarter was primarily due to rates on variable rate loans adjusting upward and higher rates on new loans. Variable rate loans reprice periodically, creating a short lag versus deposit rates on savings and money market accounts which we repriced shortly following the Federal Open Market Committee ("FOMC") announcement in the second quarter.
  • The cost of funds was 0.45% for second quarter 2022, compared to 0.26% for the prior quarter and 0.37% for the year-ago quarter. The increase of 19 basis points from the prior quarter was primarily from higher deposit rates paid on savings and money market accounts, offset partially by deposit outflows from savings and money market accounts.

• Pre-provision net revenue ("PPNR"),⁵ a non-GAAP measure, was $39.0 million for the second quarter 2022, compared to $56.9 million for the prior quarter and $60.1 million for the year-ago quarter. As a percent of average assets, adjusted PPNR for the second quarter 2022 was 1.33%, compared to 1.79% for the prior quarter and 2.10% for the year-ago quarter. This decrease in both PPNR and PPNR as a percent of average assets from the prior quarter was primarily attributable to the accrual of $13.4 million in noninterest expense in connection with entering into the agreement in principle with the SEC described above and the prior quarter included the accrual reduction of $5.0 million related to share-based compensation awards and deferred compensation for our former CEO and Chairman.
  

• Provision for credit losses on loans was $495 thousand for the second quarter 2022, compared to a reversal of $2.8 million for the prior quarter and a reversal of $3.9 million for the year-ago quarter. The second quarter 2022 provision was primarily driven by adjustments to the qualitative components of the CECL model owing to the high inflationary environment and the related uncertainty and impacts on the broader economy. This was offset by improvements in asset quality, particularly the release of specific impairment reserves related to the sale of three loans from a single relationship.
  
  
• Noninterest income was $5.6 million for the second quarter 2022, as compared to $7.5 million for the prior quarter and $10.9 million for the year-ago quarter. The decline in noninterest income from the prior quarter was primarily due to a decrease in loan fees, Federal Housing Administration trade premiums and gains on sale of residential mortgage loans and Small Business Administration loans.
  
  Residential mortgage loan locked commitments were $92.0 million, down from $136.7 million the prior quarter and down from $248.3 million for the year-ago quarter. As interest rates continued to rise in the second quarter, refinance activity continued to slow resulting in fewer locked loans.

• Noninterest expense was $49.4 million for the second quarter 2022 compared to $31.0 million for the prior quarter and $35.5 million for the year-ago quarter. The major changes from the prior quarter were as follows:
  • Other expense includes the accrual of $13.4 million of non-tax deductible expenses during the quarter to cover the Company's civil money penalty and disgorgement, plus prejudgment interest, in connection with the Company's agreement in principle with the SEC to resolve the previously disclosed investigation with respect to the Company.
  • Salaries and employee benefits were $21.8 million, up $4.8 million from the prior quarter. The increase was primarily due to the prior quarter-end including an accrual reduction of $5.0 million related to share-based compensation awards and deferred compensation for our former CEO and Chairman.
  • Legal, accounting and professional fees were $2.1 million, up $576 thousand from the prior quarter.

• Efficiency ratio⁶ was 55.9% for the second quarter 2022 compared to 35.3% for the prior quarter and 37.1% for the year-ago quarter. The increase in the efficiency ratio this quarter was primarily driven by the increase in noninterest expense (see noninterest expense section above), as compared to the prior quarter, which had an accrual reduction related to share-based compensation awards and deferred compensation to our former CEO and Chairman. Neither of these items were tax deductible.
  
  
• Effective income tax rate for the second quarter 2022 was 33.6%, compared to 23.4% for the prior quarter and 25.8% for the year-ago quarter. The increase in the effective tax rate this quarter was primarily driven by the increase in noninterest expense (see noninterest expense section above), as compared to the prior quarter, which had an accrual reduction related to share-based compensation awards and deferred compensation to our former CEO and Chairman. Neither of these items were tax deductible.
  

Balance Sheet

• Total assets at June 30, 2022 were $10.9 billion, down 2.6% from a quarter ago and down 0.2% from a year ago. The decrease from the prior quarter-end was driven by the utilization of interest-bearing deposits with banks and other short-term investments to satisfy deposit outflows.
  
  
• Investment securities AFS and Held-to-Maturity ("HTM") had an aggregate balance of $2.9 billion at June 30, 2022, down 1.0% from a quarter ago and up 72.4% from a year ago. The decrease from the prior quarter-end was primarily from lower carrying values on AFS securities. Investments purchased during the second quarter of 2022 were primarily agency mortgage backed securities and agency bonds.
  
  
• Total loans (excluding loans held for sale) were $7.155 billion as of June 30, 2022, up 0.6% from a quarter ago and down 1.4% from a year ago. Excluding PPP loans, loan balances were $7.146 billion as of June 30, 2022, up 1.0% from a quarter ago and up 1.8% from a year ago.⁷ The increase in loans, excluding PPP loans, from the prior quarter-end was driven by growth in commercial real estate ("CRE") loans and commercial & industrial loans ("C&I").
  
  

• Allowance for credit losses was 1.02% of total loans at June 30, 2022, compared to 1.01% a quarter ago, and 1.28% a year ago. See commentary above in section "Provision for Credit Losses on Loans".
  
  Net charge-off as a percent of average loans (excluding loans held for sale) (on an annualized basis), was a net recovery of 0.04% for the second quarter 2022, as compared to a charge-off of 0.03% a quarter ago, and 0.30% for the year-ago quarter. Net recovery for the quarter was $674 thousand.

• Nonperforming loans and assets: Both nonperforming loans and assets decreased compared to the prior quarter and the year-ago quarter. The decrease was driven primarily by the sale of several nonaccrual notes from one relationship, which exceeded the aggregate balance of three new nonperforming loans. Additionally, one nonperforming property was sold with a small gain.
  • Nonperforming loans as a percent of loans were 0.26% at June 30, 2022, compared to 0.33% a quarter ago and 0.68% a year ago.
  • Nonperforming assets as a percent of assets were 0.19% at June 30, 2022, compared to 0.23% a quarter ago and 0.50% a year ago.
    
    
• Total deposits were $9.2 billion at June 30, 2022, down 4.3% from a quarter ago and up 1.7% from a year ago. The outflow of deposits increased the ratio of loans to deposits up to 78% from 74% the prior quarter. Most of the outflows were in interest bearing accounts (savings and money market accounts) as average noninterest bearing deposits to average total deposits was 37.9% for the second quarter 2022, up from 36.1% a quarter ago and 33.3% for the year-ago quarter.
  
  
• Total shareholders’ equity was $1.3 billion at June 30, 2022, down 1.4% from a quarter ago, and down 3.4% from a year ago. The decrease in shareholders' equity from the prior quarter-end was primarily due to the continued increase in the overall interest rate environment, which created increased unrealized losses in investment securities available for sale, that are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). These reductions to equity were partially offset by earnings (which were negatively impacted by the agreement in principle with the SEC), less dividends declared.
  
  These factors reduced book value and tangible book value from the prior quarter-end:
  • Book value per share was $39.35, down from $39.89 a quarter ago, and down from $40.87 a year ago.
  • Tangible book value per share⁸ was $36.10, down from $36.64 a quarter ago, and down from $37.58 a year ago.
    
    
• Dividends: On June 16, 2022, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.45 per common share payable on July 29, 2022 to shareholders of record on July 11, 2022.
  
  
• Capital ratios are based on our preliminary analysis for the periods in the table below. We believe that capital ratios for the Company remain strong and substantially in excess of regulatory minimum requirements.

Legal Update

• The Bank is in advanced discussions with the staff of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) to resolve the previously disclosed investigation with respect to the Bank. We are hopeful that these discussions with the Federal Reserve Board staff will lead to a resolution of the investigation in the next few weeks on a mutually agreeable basis, but there can be no assurance that will be the case. Any agreements reached by the Bank with the staff would be subject to approval by the Federal Reserve Board, and there can be no assurance that it would be approved. We are unable to predict the outcome of the investigation or these discussions. Depending on the progress of the discussions in the coming weeks, the Company may be required to recognize a loss with respect to this investigation in the financial statements as of, and for the three-month and six-months periods ending, June 30, 2022 in its upcoming Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended June 30, 2022. However, as of the date of this earnings release, the Company has not accrued any reserve with respect to this investigation because the amount of probable loss is not reasonably estimable at this time.
  

Additional financial information: The financial information that follows provides more detail on the Company’s financial performance for the three months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021 as well as eight quarters of trend data. Persons wishing additional information should refer to the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and other reports filed with the SEC.

About Eagle Bancorp: The Company is the holding company for EagleBank, which commenced operations in 1998. The Bank is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, and operates through seventeen banking offices and five lending offices, located in Suburban Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. The Company focuses on building relationships with businesses, professionals and individuals in its marketplace, and is committed to a culture of respect, diversity, equity and inclusion in both its workplace and the communities in which it operates.

Conference call: Eagle Bancorp will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2022 financial results on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. eastern time. The public is invited to listen to this registering at the link https://register.vevent.com/register/BIbfb78eb2f18a476f86d056e181426905, or by accessing the call on the Company’s website, www.EagleBankCorp.com. A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company’s website through August 5, 2022.

Forward-looking statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements of goals, intentions, and expectations as to future trends, plans, events or results of Company operations and policies and regarding general economic conditions. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by use of words such as "may," "will," "can," "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "plans," "estimates," "potential," "continue," "should," "could," "strive," "feel" and similar words or phrases. These statements are based upon current and anticipated economic conditions, nationally and in the Company’s market (including ongoing challenges and uncertainties relating to the evolution and continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on our credit quality, asset and loan growth and broader business operations), volatility in interest rates and interest rate policy, the current high inflationary environment competitive factors, and other conditions which by their nature, are not susceptible to accurate forecast and are subject to significant uncertainty. Because of these uncertainties and the assumptions on which this discussion and the forward-looking statements are based, actual future operations and results in the future may differ materially from those indicated herein. For details on factors that could affect these expectations, see the risk factors and other cautionary language included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and in other periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. The Company’s past results are not necessarily indicative of future performance, and nothing contained herein is meant to or should be considered and treated as earnings guidance of future quarters’ performance projections. All information is as of the date of this press release. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company speak only as to the date they are made. Except to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason.

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¹ Aggregate is comprised of $10.0 million civil penalty, $2.6 million disgorgement and $750,493 prejudgment interest.
² A reconciliation between this non-GAAP financial measure and the nearest GAAP measure is provided in the tables that accompany this document
³ A reconciliation between this non-GAAP financial measure and the nearest GAAP measure is provided in the tables that accompany this document.
⁴ A reconciliation between this non-GAAP financial measure and the nearest GAAP measure is provided in the table under the subsection, "Total Loans."
⁵ A reconciliation between this non-GAAP financial measure and the nearest GAAP measure is provided in the table below. An explanation of the reconciliations and the reasons why the Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure to be important for investors is included with the reconciliation tables accompanying this document.
⁶ A reconciliation between this non-GAAP financial measure and the nearest GAAP measure is provided in the tables that accompany this document.
⁷ A reconciliation between this non-GAAP financial measure and the nearest GAAP measure is provided in the table below. An explanation of the reconciliations and the reasons why the Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure to be important for investors is included with the reconciliation tables accompanying this document.
⁸ A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest GAAP measure is provided in the tables that accompany this document.
⁹ Capital ratios for June 30, 2022 are subject to final filings with the Federal Reserve.

(1) A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the nearest non-GAAP measure is provided in the tables that accompany this document.
(2) Computed by dividing noninterest expense by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income. The efficiency ratio measures a bank’s overhead as a percentage of its revenue. 
(3) Excludes loans held for sale.

GAAP Reconciliation (unaudited) - Continued

Tangible common equity to tangible assets (the "tangible common equity ratio"), tangible book value per common share, and the return on average tangible common equity are non-GAAP financial measures derived from GAAP based amounts. The Company calculates the tangible common equity ratio by excluding the balance of intangible assets from common shareholders' equity and dividing by tangible assets. The Company calculates tangible book value per common share by dividing tangible common equity by common shares outstanding, as compared to book value per common share, which the Company calculates by dividing common shareholders' equity by common shares outstanding. The Company calculates the annualized return on average tangible common equity ratio by dividing net income available to common shareholders by average tangible common equity which is calculated by excluding the average balance of intangible assets from the average common shareholders’ equity. The Company considers this information important to shareholders as tangible equity is a measure that is consistent with the calculation of capital for bank regulatory purposes, which excludes intangible assets from the calculation of risk based ratios and as such is useful for investors, regulators, management and others to evaluate capital adequacy and to compare against other financial institutions. The above table provides reconciliation of these financial measures defined by GAAP with non-GAAP financial measures.

Pre-provision net revenue is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP based amounts. The Company calculates PPNR by subtracting noninterest expenses from the sum of net interest income and noninterest income. PPNR to Average Assets is calculated by dividing the PPNR amount by average assets to obtain a percentage. The Company considers this information important to shareholders because it illustrates revenue excluding the impact of provisions and reversals to the allowance for credit losses on loans. The table in the "Income Statement" section of this earnings release provides a reconciliation of PPNR and PPNR to Average Assets to the nearest GAAP measure.

Total loans excluding PPP loans is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP based amounts. The Company calculates Total loans excluding PPP loans by subtracting the total amount of outstanding PPP loans from the amount of total loans, excluding loans held for sale. The Company considers this information important to shareholders because it allows investors to see changes in the Company's loan growth without the impact of the PPP loans, which were loan products specific to relief efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Excluding the impact of PPP loans also allows investors to better compare the Company's loan growth to historical periods prior to the pandemic. The table in the "Balance Sheet" section of this earnings release and the table above provides a reconciliation of total loans excluding PPP loans to the nearest GAAP measure.

Efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP measure calculated by dividing GAAP non-interest expense by the sum of GAAP net interest income and GAAP non-interest (loss) income. Management believes that reporting the non-GAAP efficiency ratio more closely measures its effectiveness of controlling operational activities. The table above shows the calculation of the efficiency ratio from these GAAP measures.

Adjusted salaries and employee benefits is a non-GAAP financial measure derived from GAAP based amounts. The Company calculates adjusted salaries and employee benefits by subtracting from total salaries and employee benefits the one-time accrual reduction of $5.0 million related to share-based compensation awards and deferred compensation for the Company's former CEO and Chairman in the first quarter of 2022. The Company considers this information important to shareholders because the accrual reduction was a one-time event that occurred during the first quarter of 2022. The Adjusted Salaries and Employee Benefits non-GAAP measure provides investors insight into how salaries and employee benefits changed exclusive of the one-time accrual reduction, and allows investors to better compare the Company's performance against historical periods. The table above provides a reconciliation of adjusted salaries and employee benefits to the nearest GAAP measure.

Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share (diluted) are non-GAAP financial measures derived from GAAP based amounts. The Company calculates adjusted net income by excluding from net income the $13.4 million accrual of non-tax deductible expenses during the quarter to cover the Company's civil money penalty and disgorgement, plus prejudgment interest, in connection with the Company's agreement in principle with the SEC to resolve the previously disclosed investigation with respect to the Company. The Company calculates adjusted earnings per share (diluted) by dividing the same $13.4 million accrual by the weighted average shares outstanding (diluted) in the second quarter of 2022. The Company considers this information important to shareholders because adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share (diluted) provides investors insight into how Company earnings changed exclusive of the costs related to the agreement in principle with the SEC, and allow investors to better compare the Company's performance against historical periods. The table above provides a reconciliation of adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per share (diluted) to the nearest GAAP measure.

(1) Loans placed on nonaccrual status are included in average balances. Net loan fees and late charges included in interest income on loans totaled $4.3 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively.
(2) Interest and fees on loans and investments exclude tax equivalent adjustments.

(1) Loans placed on nonaccrual status are included in average balances. Net loan fees and late charges included in interest income on loans totaled $4.3 million and $13.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively.
(2) Interest and fees on loans and investments exclude tax equivalent adjustments.

(1) See footnote (1) for Consolidated Financial Highlights.
(2) Computed by dividing noninterest expense by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.
(3) Excludes loans held for sale.

EAGLE BANCORP, INC.
CONTACT:
David G. Danielson
240.552.9534