2024 First Quarter Financial Highlights: Total assets were $186.8 million at quarter end. Asset quality remains pristine with zero nonperforming assets at quarter end. Net interest income of $1.05 million for the first quarter. Net interest margin of 2.42% for the first quarter. Total deposits increased modestly to $140.5 million at March 31, 2024, compared to $139.1 million a year ago. Tangible book value per share increased to $7.74 at quarter end. POULSBO, Wash., April 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX:LBNW) (the "Company") and its wholly-owned subsidiary Liberty Bank today announced earnings of $15 thousand for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, compared to $1 thousand reported for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023, and $9 thousand for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. Total assets were $186.8 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $185.5 million at March 31, 2023. Net loans totaled $141.3 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $142.8 million at December 31, 2023, and $139.8 million a year ago. Loan demand weakened modestly compared to a year ago, primarily due to the high interest rate environment. Asset quality remained pristine during the quarter, with no non-performing assets as of March 31, 2024, or as of December 31, 2023. The allowance for credit losses totaled $1.13 million as of March 31, 2024, and was 0.79% of total loans outstanding. The Company recorded net loan recoveries of $19 thousand during the quarter. Due to improved credit quality metrics, the Company recorded a $40 thousand reversal to its provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2024, compared to a $60 thousand reversal to its provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2023 and a $30 thousand provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2023. Total deposits decreased 1% to $140.5 million at March 31, 2024, compared to $142.2 million at December 31, 2023, and increased 1% compared to $139.1 million a year earlier. Non-interest bearing demand accounts represented 29%, interest bearing demand represented 16%, money market and savings accounts comprised 21%, and certificates of deposit made up 33% of the total deposit portfolio at March 31, 2024. Net interest income, before the provision for loan losses, was $1.05 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $1.10 million in the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in net interest income year-over-year was primarily due to the increase in interest expense on deposits and other borrowings resulting from the higher interest rate environment. "Our net interest margin contracted six basis points during the first quarter, compared to the preceding quarter, as the increase in cost of funds more than offset the growth in our yields on earning assets. However, the pace of net interest margin contraction has begun to moderate, and we anticipate stabilization or improvement in our net interest margin over the next few quarters," said Rick Darrow, Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer. The Company's net interest margin was 2.42% for the first quarter of 2024, compared to 2.48% for the preceding quarter, and 2.62% for the first quarter of 2023. Total non-interest income was $73 thousand for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $130 thousand for the first quarter a year ago. The decrease compared to the year ago quarter was primarily due to higher referral fee income during the first quarter of 2023, compared to the first quarter of 2024. Total noninterest expense was $1.14 million for the first quarter of 2024, a decrease of $52 thousand, or 4%, from the first quarter a year ago. Compensation and benefits costs decreased by $88 thousand, or 13%, over the year ago quarter, while occupancy costs increased by 2% from the like quarter of last year. Capital ratios continue to exceed regulatory requirements, with a total risk-based capital ratio at 15.29% at quarter end, substantially above well-capitalized regulatory requirements. The tangible book value per share increased to $7.74 at quarter end, compared to $7.59 a year earlier. "The recent market disruptions in our Pacific Northwest markets are affording us opportunities to take advantage of and expand our client base," said Darrow. "Although economic uncertainty persists, and unusual challenges presented to us by the higher for longer interest rate environment continues, we believe that with our strong deposit franchise, solid capital levels, and excellent credit quality we are well positioned to grow and prosper." About Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc.Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. is the bank holding company for Liberty Bank, a commercial bank chartered in the State of Washington. The Bank began operations June 11, 2009, and operates a full-service branch in Poulsbo, WA., in addition to a loan production office in Bellevue, WA. The Bank provides loan and deposit services to predominantly small and middle-sized businesses and individuals in and around Kitsap and King counties. The Bank is subject to regulation by the State of Washington Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). For more information, please visit www.libertybanknw.com. Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX:LBNW), qualified to trade on the OTCQX® Best Market in June 2022. For information related to the trading of LBNW, please visit www.otcmarkets.com. For further discussion, please contact:Rick Darrow, Chief Executive Officer | 360-394-4750 Forward-Looking Statement Safe Harbor: This news release contains comments or information that constitutes forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that are based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements describe Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc.'s projections, estimates, plans and expectations of future results and can be identified by words such as "believe," "intend," "estimate," "likely," "anticipate," "expect," "looking forward," and other similar expressions. They are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the results expressed in these forward-looking statements, which because of their forward-looking nature, are difficult to predict. Investors should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, and should consider factors that might cause differences including but not limited to the degree of competition by traditional and nontraditional competitors, declines in real estate markets, an increase in unemployment or sustained high levels of unemployment; changes in interest rates; greater than expected costs to integrate acquisitions, adverse changes in local, national and international economies; changes in the Federal Reserve's actions that affect monetary and fiscal policies; changes in legislative or regulatory actions or reform, including without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; demand for products and services; changes to the quality of the loan portfolio and our ability to succeed in our problem-asset resolution efforts; the impact of technological advances; changes in tax laws; and other risk factors. Liberty Northwest Bancorp, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or clarify any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)                     (Dollars in thousands)                           Quarter Ended March 31, 2024   Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2023   Three Month Change   Quarter Ended March 31, 2023   Quarter over Quarter -One Year Change Interest Income                       Loans   $ 1,960     $ 1,890     4 %   $ 1,686     16 %   Interest bearing deposits in banks     79       101     -21 %     41     93 %   Securities     120       140     -14 %     110     9 %   Total interest income     2,159       2,112     2 %     1,837     18 %                         Interest Expense                       Deposits     682       656     4 %     425     60 %   Other Borrowings     430       384     12 %     308     40 %   Total interest expense     1,112       1,040     7 %     733     52 %                         Net Interest Income     1,048       1,072     -2 %     1,104     -5 %   Provision for Loan Losses     (40 )     (60 )   -33 %     30     -233 % Net interest income after provision for loan losses   1,088       1,132     -4 %     1,074     1 %                         Non-Interest Income                       Service charges on deposit accounts   5       17     -68 %     15     -64 %   Other non-interest income     67       61     11 %     115     -42 %   Total non-interest income     73       78     -6 %     130     -44 %