Preferred Bank Reports Quarterly Results

Preferred Bank
Preferred Bank

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LOS ANGELES, July 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: PFBC), one of the larger independent California banks, today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. Preferred Bank (“the Bank”) reported net income of $33.6 million or $2.48 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2024. This represents a slight increase in net income of $126,000 over the prior quarter but down by $4.3 million from the same quarter last year. The decrease in net income from the prior year was due to lower net interest income because of rising deposit costs. Despite the decrease in net income, Preferred Bank continues to deliver top-of-peer group profitability metrics and long term shareholder returns.

Highlights for the Quarter:

  • Return on average assets was 1.97%

  • Return on beginning equity of 19.44%

  • Net interest margin (NIM) was 3.96%

  • Total loans increased by $103 million or 1.9% for the quarter

  • Total deposits increased $77 million or 1.3% for the quarter

  • Efficiency ratio was 28.3%

Li Yu, Chairman and CEO, commented, “I am pleased to report Preferred Bank’s second quarter net income of $33.6 million or $2.48 per fully diluted share. For the quarter, total loans grew $103 million or 1.95% on a linked quarter basis. Deposits also grew $77 million or 1.33% linked quarter.

“This quarter, total non-performing loans (NPL’s) increased $22.2 million to $40.6 million as several previously criticized loans have changed from performing status to non-accrual status. This migration is typical in the process of problem loan resolution. We are confident that these NPL’s are either fully-reserved or well-protected by collateral and cash flow. It is not likely that the resolution of these loans will present any significant impact to the Bank’s future earnings. Criticized loans at June 30, 2024, decreased $13.0 million from the previous quarter-end and in-migration into this category seems to have slowed down. There was only one loan newly classified/criticized in the quarter. The loan was supported by adequate collateral value and cash flow with no loss exposure identified.

“During the quarter, we have charged-off $9.0 million of loans that were fully reserved for at the end of the previous quarter. Provision expense for the quarter was $2.5 million. The allowance for credit losses now stands at 1.34% of total loans at June 30, 2024.

“We continue to work on our balance sheet in order to reduce the asset sensitivity in the balance sheet. We are confident that with this work, when interest rates ease the impact on our earnings will be quite modest. Meanwhile, lower interest rates will typically give way to better organic growth which will positively impact earnings.