SANTA ROSA, Calif., April 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Summit State Bank (the "Bank") (NASDAQ:SSBI) today reported net income for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 of $1,395,000, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to net income of $4,116,000, or $0.62 per diluted share for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. The Board of Directors declared the Bank's eighty second consecutive quarterly cash dividend for common shareholders of $0.12 per share on April 29, 2024. It will be paid on May 23, 2024, to shareholders of record on May 16, 2024. "First quarter earnings were impacted by current challenges facing the entire banking industry. We are implementing steps to reverse declines in net income and remain focused on continuing to improve financial performance," said Brian Reed, President and CEO. "We continue to operate in a high interest rate environment where competition for deposits is growing and the cost of funding remains high. Additionally, quarterly loan growth has moderated, as we remain selective with the loans we are putting on the balance sheet. We are focused on protecting our net interest income while also maintaining a strong capital position as we look for opportunities to grow in our market." First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights (at or for the three months ended March 31, 2024) Net income was $1,395,000, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $4,116,000, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2023 and $1,901,000, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2023. Reversal of credit losses on loans was $15,000, compared to a provision for credit losses on loans of $400,000 in the first quarter a year ago and a reversal of credit losses on loans of $31,000 in the preceding quarter. Net interest margin was 2.81%, compared to 3.69% in the first quarter a year ago and 2.85% in the preceding quarter. First quarter revenues (interest income plus noninterest income) decreased 7.1% to $15,425,000, compared to $16,609,000 in the first quarter a year ago and increased 0.6% compared to $15,333,000 in the preceding quarter. Annualized return on average assets was 0.51%, compared to 1.47% in the first quarter of 2023 and 0.67% in the preceding quarter. Annualized return on average equity was 5.74%, compared to 18.38% in the first quarter a year ago and 8.02% in the preceding quarter. Net loans increased $10,062,000 to $917,685,000 at March 31, 2024, compared to $907,623,000 one year earlier and decreased $20,941,000 compared to $938,626,000 three months earlier. Total deposits decreased 8% to $939,202,000 at March 31, 2024, compared to $1,015,652,000 at March 31, 2023, and decreased 7% when compared to the prior quarter end of $1,009,693,000. The Bank's nonperforming loans to gross loans were 4.45% and nonperforming assets to total assets were 3.85%, at March 31, 2024. This is compared to nonperforming loans to gross loans of 1.13% and nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.91% at March 31, 2023, and nonperforming loans to gross loans of 4.63% and nonperforming assets to total assets of 3.94% at December 31, 2023. Book value was $14.43 per share, compared to $13.76 per share a year ago and $14.40 in the preceding quarter. Declared its 82nd consecutive quarterly cash dividend, this being $0.12 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2024. Operating Results For the first quarter of 2024, the annualized return on average assets was 0.51% and the annualized return on average equity was 5.74%. This compared to an annualized return on average assets of 1.47% and an annualized return on average equity of 18.38%, respectively, for the first quarter of 2023. "Our net interest margin contracted four basis points during the quarter, as the increase in loan yields was more than offset by higher funding costs. The cost of deposits in the first quarter was 2.83% as customers continue to seek higher rates," said Reed. Summit's net interest margin was 2.81% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 2.85% in the preceding quarter and 3.69% in the first quarter of 2023. Interest and dividend income decreased 1.0% to $14,477,000 in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $14,648,000 in the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in interest income is attributable to a $544,000 decrease in interest on deposits with banks and a decrease of $7,000 in interest on investment securities offset by an increase in interest on loans of $335,000 and an increase in dividends on FHLB stock of $45,000. Noninterest income decreased in the first quarter of 2024 to $948,000 compared to $1,961,000 in the first quarter of 2023. The Bank recognized $514,000 in gains on sales of SBA and USDA guaranteed loan balances in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $1,435,000 in gains on sales of SBA guaranteed loan balances in the first quarter of 2023. Operating expenses increased in the first quarter of 2024 to $6,400,000 compared to $5,818,000 in the first quarter of 2023. The increase is primarily due to a $184,000 increase in salaries and commissions net of deferred fees and costs, a $158,000 one-time vacation accrual expense, a $60,000 increase in information technology expense and a $58,000 increase in professional fees. Balance Sheet Review Net loans increased 1% to $917,685,000 at March 31, 2024, compared to $907,623,000 at March 31, 2023, and decreased 2% compared to December 31, 2023.   Total deposits decreased 8% to $939,202,000 at March 31, 2024, compared to $1,015,652,000 at March 31, 2023, and decreased 7% when compared to the prior quarter end. At March 31, 2024, noninterest bearing demand deposit accounts decreased 23% compared to a year ago and represented 19% of total deposits; savings, NOW and money market accounts increased 35% compared to a year ago and represented 52% of total deposits, and CDs decreased 36% compared to a year ago and comprised 28% of total deposits. The decrease in deposits is a result of the Bank managing its liquidity levels and asset growth. The average cost of deposits was 2.83% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 1.79% in the first quarter of 2023. Shareholders' equity was $97,878,000 at March 31, 2024, compared to $97,678,000 three months earlier and $92,665,000 a year earlier. The increase in shareholders' equity compared to a year ago was primarily due to an increase of $4,861,000 in retained earnings. At March 31, 2024 tangible book value was $14.43 per share, compared to $14.40 three months earlier, and $13.76 at March 31, 2023. Summit State Bank continues to maintain capital levels in excess of the requirements to be categorized as "well-capitalized" with tangible equity to tangible assets of 8.96% at March 31, 2024, compared to 8.38% at December 31, 2023, and 7.99% at March 31, 2023. The increase compared to March 2023 was due to the Bank's retention of capital to build liquidity, which is exceeding asset growth. Credit Quality "We are closely monitoring asset quality, and nonperforming loans declined from the immediate prior quarter while there were no charge offs during the first quarter. Despite the challenging operating outlook and the ‘higher for longer' interest rate environment that's impacting the entire banking industry, our asset quality remains within manageable levels, with our commercial, owner occupied commercial real estate, and non-owner occupied commercial real estate portfolios all performing well." Nonperforming assets were $41,548,000, or 3.85% of total assets, at March 31, 2024, and consisted of seventeen loans; two loans totaling $6,709,000 are real estate secured commercial loans and fifteen loans totaling $34,839,000 are commercial and agriculture secured loans. This compared to $44,206,000 in nonperforming assets at December 31, 2023, and $10,411,000 in nonperforming assets at March 31, 2023. Net recoveries were $281,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $40,000 during the three months ended December 31, 2023 and $13,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023. For the first quarter of 2024, consistent with factors within the allowance for credit losses, the Bank recorded a $15,000 reversal for credit loss expense for loans, a $65,000 reversal for credit losses for unfunded loan commitments and a $5,000 reversal for credit losses on investments. This compared to a $400,000 provision for credit loss expense on loans and a $33,000 reversal for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments in the first quarter of 2023. The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.66% on March 31, 2024, and 1.65% on March 31, 2023. The real estate non-owner occupied portfolio, which accounts for a majority of the Bank's loan portfolio, had an average loan-to-value of 49% and a debt service coverage ratio of 1.96 as of March 31, 2024. About Summit State Bank Summit State Bank, a local community bank, has total assets of $1.1 billion and total equity of $98 million at March 31, 2024. Headquartered in Sonoma County, the Bank specializes in providing exceptional customer service and customized financial solutions to aid in the success of local small businesses and nonprofits throughout Sonoma County. Summit State Bank is committed to embracing the diverse backgrounds, cultures and talents of its employees to create high performance and support the evolving needs of its customers and community it serves. At the center of diversity is inclusion, collaboration, and a shared vision for delivering superior service to customers and results for shareholders. Presently, 63% of management are women and minorities with 60% represented on the Executive Management Team. Through the engagement of its team, Summit State Bank has received many esteemed awards including: Best Business Bank, Best Places to Work in the North Bay, Top Community Bank Loan Producer, Raymond James Bankers Cup, Super Premier Performing Bank, and Piper Sandler SM-ALL Star. Summit State Bank's stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol SSBI. Further information can be found at www.summitstatebank.com. Forward-looking Statements The financial results in this release are preliminary. Final financial results and other disclosures will be reported in Summit State Bank's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 and may differ materially from the results and disclosures in this release due to, among other things, the completion of final review procedures, the occurrence of subsequent events or the discovery of additional information. Except for historical information contained herein, the statements contained in this news release, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties may include but are not necessarily limited to fluctuations in interest rates, inflation, government regulations and general economic conditions, and competition within the business areas in which the Bank will be conducting its operations, including the real estate market in California and other factors beyond the Bank's control. Such risks and uncertainties could cause results for subsequent interim periods or for the entire year to differ materially from those indicated. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. The Bank undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.                     SUMMIT STATE BANK STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands except earnings per share data)                                                   Three Months Ended           March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023   March 31, 2023           (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)                     Interest and dividend income:             Interest and fees on loans $ 13,274     $ 13,409     $ 12,939     Interest on deposits with banks   362       792       906     Interest on investment securities   712       712       719     Dividends on FHLB stock   129       123       84         Total interest and dividend income   14,477       15,036       14,648   Interest expense:             Deposits   6,786       7,113       4,400     Federal Home Loan Bank advances   190       -       119     Junior subordinated debt   94       94       94         Total interest expense   7,070       7,207       4,613         Net interest income before provision for credit losses   7,407       7,829       10,035   (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on loans   (15 )     (31 )     400   (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments   (65 )     (65 )     (33 ) (Reversal of) provision for credit losses on investments   (5 )     31       -         Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit                 losses on loans, unfunded loan commitments and investments   7,492       7,894       9,668   Non-interest income:             Service charges on deposit accounts   233       219       208     Rental income   60       54       39     Net gain on loan sales   514       -       1,435     Other income   141       24       279         Total non-interest income   948       297       1,961   Non-interest expense:             Salaries and employee benefits   4,182       3,044