Provident Financial Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2024 Results

Net Income of $1.95 Million in the June 2024 Quarter

Net Interest Margin of 2.74% in the June 2024 Quarter

Loans Held for Investment of $1.05 Billion at June 30, 2024, Down 2% from June 30, 2023

Total Deposits of $888.3 Million at June 30, 2024, Down 7% from June 30, 2023

Non-Performing Assets to Total Assets Ratio of 0.20% at June 30, 2024

Non-Interest Expenses Remain Well Controlled

RIVERSIDE, Calif., July 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Company”), NASDAQ GS: PROV, the holding company for Provident Savings Bank, F.S.B. (“Bank”), today announced earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

The Company reported net income of $1.95 million, or $0.28 per diluted share (on 6.89 million average diluted shares outstanding) for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, up eight percent from net income of $1.81 million, or $0.26 per diluted share (on 7.07 million average diluted shares outstanding), in the comparable period a year ago. The increase in earnings was due primarily to a $435,000 decrease in non-interest expenses (primarily attributable to lower salaries and employment benefits) and a $332,000 increase in non-interest income (primarily attributable to gains on investment securities), partly offset by a $783,000 decrease in net interest income (primarily attributable to a lower net interest margin).

“I am excited to begin our new fiscal year, especially with indications that the Federal Open Market Committee is nearing a decision to lower the targeted federal funds rate. If looser monetary policy is implemented, we anticipate the currently elevated interest rates and the inverted yield curve would begin to reverse course. This shift would enable us to gradually transition back to less restrictive operating strategies and resume growing our loan portfolio at a reasonable pace,” stated Donavon P. Ternes, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “In any event, we remain committed to prudently managing operating expenses, maintaining strong credit and interest rate risk management practices, and ensuring a sound balance sheet. Additionally, we expect to continue to declare cash dividends and execute our common stock repurchase program consistent with the Company’s business plan,” concluded Ternes.

On a sequential quarter basis, the $1.95 million net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 reflects a 31 percent increase from $1.49 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The increase was primarily attributable to a $619,000 increase in non-interest income (primarily due to gains on investment securities) and a $136,000 decrease in the provision for credit losses, with a recovery of $12,000 during the current quarter in contrast to a $124,000 provision in the prior sequential quarter, partly offset by a $108,000 decrease in net interest income (primarily due to a lower balance of interest-earning assets). Diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 were $0.28 per share, up 27 percent from $0.22 per share in the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

Return on average assets was 0.62 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 0.47 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and 0.55 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Return on average stockholders’ equity for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was 5.96 percent, compared to 4.57 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 and 5.52 percent for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024, net income decreased $1.24 million, or 14 percent, to $7.35 million from $8.59 million in the prior fiscal year. Diluted earnings per share for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 decreased 11 percent to $1.06 per share (on 6.96 million average diluted shares outstanding) from $1.19 per share (on 7.19 million average diluted shares outstanding) for the prior fiscal year. The decrease in earnings was primarily attributable to a $2.06 million decrease in net interest income (primarily due to a lower net interest margin), a $270,000 increase in non-interest expense and a $134,000 decrease in non-interest income, partly offset by a $437,000 decrease in the provision for credit losses, with a $63,000 recovery of credit losses for the current fiscal year, compared to a $374,000 provision for credit losses for the prior fiscal year.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, net interest income decreased $783,000, or eight percent, to $8.45 million from $9.23 million for the same quarter last year. The decrease was primarily due to increased funding costs outpacing increased yields on interest-earning assets and, to a lesser extent, a lower average balance of interest-earning assets. The average yield on interest-earning assets increased 48 basis points to 4.51 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from 4.03 percent in the same quarter last year. In contrast, the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased by 70 basis points to 1.97 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from 1.27 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of interest-earning assets decreased four percent to $1.23 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $1.28 billion in the same quarter last year, primarily due to decreases in the average balance of loans receivable, investment securities and interest-earning deposits. The net interest margin for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 decreased 14 basis points to 2.74 percent from 2.88 percent in the same quarter last year.

Interest income on loans receivable increased $1.00 million, or eight percent, to $12.83 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $11.83 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was due to a higher average loan yield, partly offset by a lower average loan balance. The average yield on loans receivable increased 46 basis points to 4.84 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from 4.38 percent in the same quarter last year. Adjustable-rate loans of approximately $98.6 million repriced upward in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 by approximately 113 basis points from a weighted average rate of 6.97 percent to 8.10 percent. The average balance of loans receivable decreased $20.3 million, or two percent, to $1.06 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $1.08 billion in the same quarter last year. Total loans originated for investment in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 were $18.6 million, down 23 percent from $24.3 million in the same quarter last year, while loan principal payments received in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 were $30.6 million, up 22 percent from $25.1 million in the same quarter last year.

Interest income from investment securities decreased $33,000, or six percent, to $504,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $537,000 for the same quarter of fiscal 2023. This decrease was attributable to a lower average balance, partly offset by a higher average yield. The average balance of investment securities decreased $24.8 million, or 15 percent, to $135.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $160.6 million in the same quarter last year. The decrease in the average balance was due to scheduled principal payments and prepayments of the investment securities. The average yield on investment securities increased 14 basis points to 1.48 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from 1.34 percent for the same quarter last year. The increase in the average yield was primarily attributable to a lower premium amortization during the current quarter in comparison to the same quarter last year ($117,000 vs. $168,000) due to lower total principal repayments ($5.9 million vs. $6.9 million) and, to a lesser extent, the upward repricing of adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, the Federal Home Loan Bank – San Francisco (“FHLB”) distributed $207,000 in cash dividends to the Bank on its FHLB stock, up 46 percent from $142,000 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an average yield on FHLB stock of 8.66 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to 6.15 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of FHLB stock in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $9.6 million, up from $9.2 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2023.

Interest income from interest-earning deposits, primarily cash deposited at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, was $379,000 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, down $31,000 or eight percent from $410,000 in the same quarter of fiscal 2023. The decrease was due to a lower average balance, partly offset by a higher average yield. The average balance of the Company’s interest-earning deposits decreased $4.6 million, or 14 percent, to $27.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $32.4 million in the same quarter last year. The average yield earned on interest-earning deposits in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was 5.39 percent, up 38 basis points from 5.01 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in the average yield was due to a higher average interest rate on the Federal Reserve Bank’s reserve balances resulting from increases in the targeted federal funds rate in the first half of calendar 2023.

Interest expense on deposits for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $2.83 million, an increase of $1.36 million or 92 percent from $1.47 million for the same period last year. The increase in interest expense on deposits was attributable to higher rates paid on deposits, partly offset by a lower average balance. The average cost of deposits was 1.27 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, up 65 basis points from 0.62 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in the average cost of deposits was primarily attributable to an increase in higher costing time deposits, particularly brokered certificates of deposit. The average balance of deposits decreased $58.3 million, or six percent, to $898.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $956.7 million in the same quarter last year.

Transaction account balances or “core deposits” decreased $115.1 million, or 16 percent, to $614.5 million at June 30, 2024 from $729.6 million at June 30, 2023, while time deposits increased $53.0 million, or 24 percent, to $273.9 million at June 30, 2024 from $220.9 million at June 30, 2023. The increase in time deposits was primarily due to both increases in retail time deposits and brokered certificates of deposit. As of June 30, 2024, brokered certificates of deposit totaled $131.8 million with a weighted average cost of 5.18 percent (including broker fees), up $25.4 million or 24 percent from $106.4 million with a weighted average cost of 4.78 percent at June 30, 2023.

Interest expense on borrowings, consisting of FHLB advances, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $426,000, or 19 percent, to $2.63 million from $2.21 million for the same period last year. The increase in interest expense on borrowings was primarily the result of a higher average cost and, to a lesser extent, a higher average balance. The average balance of borrowings increased $11.3 million, or five percent, to $218.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $207.5 million in the same quarter last year. The average cost of borrowings increased by 58 basis points to 4.84 percent in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from 4.26 percent in the same quarter last year.

At June 30, 2024, the Bank had approximately $261.3 million of remaining borrowing capacity at the FHLB. Additionally, the Bank has an unused secured borrowing facility of approximately $208.6 million with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and an unused unsecured federal funds borrowing facility of $50.0 million with its correspondent bank. The total available borrowing capacity across all sources totaled approximately $519.9 million at June 30, 2024.

The Bank continues to work with both the FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to ensure that its borrowing capacity is continuously reviewed and updated in order to be accessed seamlessly should the need arise.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company recorded a recovery of credit losses of $12,000 (which included a $31,000 provision for unfunded commitment reserves), as compared to a $56,000 recovery of credit losses recorded during the same period last year and a $124,000 provision for credit losses recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 (sequential quarter). The recovery of credit losses recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was primarily attributable to the slight decline in the outstanding balance of loans held for investment at June 30, 2024 from March 31, 2024, and a slightly shorter estimated life of the single-family loan portfolio resulting from higher loan prepayment estimates. These positive factors were partly offset by an increase in unfunded loan commitments resulting from a higher outstanding balance at June 30, 2024 as compared to March 31, 2024.

Non-performing assets, comprised solely of non-accrual loans with underlying collateral located in California, increased $1.3 million or 100 percent to $2.6 million, which represents 0.20 percent of total assets at June 30, 2024, compared to $1.3 million, which represents 0.10 percent of total assets at June 30, 2023. At June 30, 2024, the non-performing loans were comprised of 10 single-family loans, while at June 30, 2023, there were six single-family loans categorized as non-performing. At both June 30, 2024 and June 30, 2023, there was no real estate owned and no loans past due by 90 days or more that were accruing interest. For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, there were no net loan charge-offs, as compared to $1,000 of net loan recoveries for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Classified assets were $5.8 million at June 30, 2024 consisting of $1.1 million of loans in the special mention category and $4.7 million of loans in the substandard category. Classified assets at June 30, 2023 were $2.3 million, consisting of $509,000 of loans in the special mention category and $1.8 million of loans in the substandard category.

The allowance for credit losses on gross loans held for investment was $7.1 million, or 0.67 percent of gross loans held for investment, at June 30, 2024, up from the $5.9 million, or 0.55 percent of gross loans held for investment, at June 30, 2023. The increase in the allowance for credit losses was due primarily to the adoption of the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) methodology on July 1, 2023, which resulted in a $1.2 million increase in our allowance for credit losses, partly offset by a $63,000 recovery of credit losses in fiscal 2024 (which included a $15,000 provision for unfunded commitment reserves). Results for reporting periods beginning after July 1, 2023 are presented under CECL while prior period results continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable accounting standards. Management believes that, based on currently available information, the allowance for credit losses is sufficient to absorb expected losses inherent in loans held for investment at June 30, 2024.

Non-interest income increased by $332,000, or 29 percent, to $1.47 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $1.14 million in the same period last year, due primarily to gains on investment securities of $541,000 resulted from the VISA share conversion. In May 2024, the Bank converted its VISA class B shares into VISA Class C shares and VISA Class B2 shares and recorded the VISA Class C shares at fair value subsequent to the conversion. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income increased $619,000, or 73 percent, primarily due to the gains on investment securities.

Non-interest expense decreased $435,000, or six percent, to $7.17 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 from $7.61 million for the same quarter last year, primarily due to lower salaries and employee benefits, resulting from lower incentive compensation. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expense was virtually unchanged as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2024.

The Company’s efficiency ratio, defined as non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was 72.31 percent, improved from 73.36 percent in the same quarter last year and 76.20 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 (sequential quarter). The improvement in the efficiency ratio during the current quarter in comparison to the comparable quarter last year was due to lower non-interest expense and higher non-interest income, partly offset by lower net interest income.

The Company’s provision for income taxes was $805,000 for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, down 20 percent from $1.01 million in the same quarter last year and up 30 percent from $620,000 for third quarter of fiscal 2024 (sequential quarter). The decrease during the current quarter compared to the same quarter last year was due to a decrease in pre-tax income. On sequential basis, the increase in the provision for income taxes was primarily due to a higher net income before income taxes. The effective tax rate in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was 29.2 percent as compared to 35.8 percent in the same quarter last year and 29.3 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. The higher effective tax rate in the fourth quarter last year was due primarily to a decline in tax benefits from equity incentive compensation.

The Company repurchased 48,476 shares of its common stock pursuant to its current stock repurchase program at an average cost of $13.00 per share during the quarter ended June 30, 2024. As of June 30, 2024, a total of 189,116 shares remained available for future purchase under the Company’s current repurchase program, which expires on September 28, 2024.

The Bank currently operates 13 retail/business banking offices in Riverside County and San Bernardino County (Inland Empire).

The Company will host a conference call for institutional investors and bank analysts on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-800-715-9871 and referencing Conference ID number 7361828. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Tuesday, August 6, 2024 by dialing 1-800-770-2030 and referencing Conference ID number 7361828.

For more financial information about the Company please visit the website at www.myprovident.com and click on the “Investor Relations” section.

Safe-Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that the Company believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. You should not place undue reliance on these statements as they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements the Company may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to the Company. There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: potential adverse impacts to economic conditions in our local market areas, other markets where the Company has lending relationships, or other aspects of the Company’s business operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels, labor shortages and the effects of inflation, a potential recession or slowed economic growth; changes in the interest rate environment, including the past increases in the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board (the “Federal Reserve”) benchmark rate and duration at which such increased interest rate levels are maintained, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses, the value of assets and obligations, and the availability and cost of capital and liquidity; the impact of continuing inflation and the current and future monetary policies of the Federal Reserve in response thereto; the effects of any federal government shutdown; increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; fluctuations in deposits; liquidity issues, including our ability to borrow funds or raise additional capital, if necessary; expectations regarding key growth initiatives and strategic priorities; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities and tax law, in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on the third-party vendors who perform several of our critical processing functions; environmental, social and governance goals; the effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, and other external events on our business; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) – which are available on our website at www.myprovident.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2025 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us and could negatively affect our operating and stock price performance.

⁽¹⁾ Weighted-average yield earned on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.

⁽¹⁾  Weighted-average yield earned on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.

⁽¹⁾  Weighted-average rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
⁽²⁾  Includes uninsured deposits of approximately $122.7 million and $140.1 million at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
⁽³⁾  The average balance of deposit accounts was approximately $34 thousand at both June 30, 2024 and 2023.
⁽⁴⁾  The Bank had approximately $261.3 million and $287.9 million of remaining borrowing capacity at the FHLB – San Francisco, approximately $208.6 million and $139.0 million of borrowing capacity at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and $50.0 million and $50.0 million of borrowing capacity with its correspondent bank at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

⁽¹⁾  Weighted-average yield earned or rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
⁽²⁾  Includes the average balance of noninterest-bearing checking accounts of $92.5 million and $105.6 million during the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

⁽¹⁾  Weighted-average yield earned or rate paid on all instruments included in the balance of the respective line item.
⁽²⁾  Includes the average balance of noninterest-bearing checking accounts of $97.3 million and $112.9 million during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

ASSET QUALITY:

⁽¹⁾  The non-performing loan balances are net of individually evaluated or collectively evaluated allowances, specifically attached to the individual loans.