Affinity Bancshares, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2022 Financial Results

COVINGTON, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Affinity Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:“AFBI”) (the “Company”), the holding company for Affinity Bank (the “Bank”), today announced net income of $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021.

	For the three months ended,
Performance Ratios:	March 31, 2022	December 31, 2021	September 30, 2021	June 30, 2021	March 31, 2021
Return on average assets	0.97%	0.66%	0.91%	1.18%	1.11%
Return on average equity	5.97%	4.36%	6.00%	7.95%	8.03%
Net interest margin	4.53%	3.64%	3.78%	4.10%	4.65%
Efficiency ratio	69.00%	74.29%	65.87%	58.30%	64.96%

Results of Operations

Net income was $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as a result of a decrease in Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan related interest and fee income as we have been receiving forgiveness payments for these loans partially offset by a decrease in interest expense mostly related to the recognition of remaining discounts upon the payoff of acquired FHLB advances.

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income decreased $590,000, and was $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $8.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. Average interest-earning assets decreased by $33.2 million, and was $684.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to $717.8 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This decrease was a result of the decrease in PPP loans as forgiveness payments were received. Net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2022, decreased to 4.53% from 4.65% for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decrease in net interest margin was primarily due to the decrease in PPP loans as forgiveness payments were received and partially offset by the decrease in interest expense from recognition of remaining discounts upon the payoff of acquired FHLB advances. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities decreased to (0.44)% from 0.76% for the three months ended March 31, 2021, as a result of paying off Federal Home Loan Bank advances and recognizing $1.0 million in accretion from marks on acquired advances. The total cost of deposits was 0.48% for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to 0.72% for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The decrease was due to decreasing deposit rates related to the decrease in market rates.

Provision for Loan Losses

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the provision for loan loss expense was $250,000 compared to $450,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. We increased our provision expense in 2021 due to the uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the economy began to improve in 2021 and continued to improve in 2022, less provision expense was required. Net loan charge offs were $3,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to net loan recoveries of $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The increase in net recoveries for 2021 was primarily driven by a $1.0 million recovery on a previously charged off commercial real estate loan.

Non-interest Income

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, noninterest income decreased $134,000 to $595,000 compared to $729,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. This was a result of the decrease in other non-interest income as income was received in 2021 for a bank-owned life insurance death benefit claim and no such benefit claim was received in 2022.

Non-interest Expense

Operating expenses decreased $134,000, and was $5.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $5.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021, primarily as a result of a decrease in occupancy expense due to facilities consolidation partially offset by an increase in salaries and employee benefits due to the Company’s strategic initiative to attract and retain talent.

Income Tax Expense

We recorded income tax expense of $547,000 for three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $596,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021. The higher tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021, was primarily due to higher pretax income.

Financial Condition

Total assets decreased by $27.9 million to $760.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, from $788.1 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease was due primarily to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents of $41.9 million due to paying off Federal Home Loan Bank advances and partially offset by an increase in net loans. Cash and equivalents decreased $41.9 million, to $69.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, from $111.8 million at December 31, 2021, as excess liquidity was utilized to payoff Federal Home Loan Bank advances. Total investment securities available for sale decreased by $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, as compared to December 31, 2021, as our unrealized loss on the investment portfolio increased. Total net loans increased $17.1 million to $592.9 million at March 31, 2022 from $575.8 million at December 31, 2021, including Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $7.1 million and $17.9 million at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Deposits increased by $13.2 million to $628.0 million at March 31, 2022 compared to $614.8 million at December 31, 2021, which reflected an increase in interest-bearing, market rate, and non-interest-bearing deposits of $17.7 million. The loan-to-deposit ratio at March 31, 2022 was 94.4%, as compared to 93.7% at December 31, 2021. Stockholders’ equity decreased to $116.4 million at March 31, 2022, as compared to $121.0 million at December 31, 2021, primarily due to the decrease in additional paid in capital from the repurchase of 253,779 shares of AFBI stock totaling $3.9 million with an average price per share of $15.53 as well as an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to our investment portfolio.

Asset Quality

The Company’s non-performing loans decreased to $6.3 million at March 31, 2022, as compared to $7.0 million at December 31, 2021. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of non-performing loans was 138.9% at March 31, 2022, as compared to 122.1% at December 31, 2021. The Company’s allowance for loan losses was 1.46% of total loans for both March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

About Affinity Bancshares, Inc.

The Company is a Maryland corporation based in Covington, Georgia. The Company’s banking subsidiary, Affinity Bank, opened in 1928 and currently operates a full-service office in Atlanta, Georgia, two full-service offices in Covington, Georgia, and a loan production office serving the Alpharetta and Cumming, Georgia markets.

Average Balance Sheets

The following table sets forth average balance sheets, average annualized yields and costs, and certain other information for the periods indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments have been made, as the effects would be immaterial. All average balances are monthly average balances. Non-accrual loans were included in the computation of average balances. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts, and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or interest expense.

	For the Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022									2021
	Average Outstanding Balance			Interest			Average Yield/Rate			Average Outstanding Balance			Interest		Average Yield/Rate
	(Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
Loans excluding PPP loans	$	574,393		$	6,792			4.73	%	$	490,660		$	6,204		5.06	%
PPP loans		12,369			204			6.59	%		123,457			2,890		9.36	%
Securities		48,648			260			2.14	%		23,751			94		1.59	%
Interest-earning deposits		48,231			17			0.14	%		77,950			42		0.22	%
Other investments		1,000			6			2.33	%		1,990			18		3.56	%
Total interest-earning assets		684,641			7,279			4.25	%		717,808			9,248		5.15	%
Non-interest-earning assets		62,343									62,054
Total assets	$	746,984								$	779,862
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Savings accounts	$	86,195			83			0.38	%	$	94,167			107		0.45	%
Interest-bearing checking accounts		96,273			42			0.17	%		96,513			52		0.22	%
Market rate checking accounts		144,455			88			0.25	%		124,209			133		0.43	%
Certificates of deposit		94,465			290			1.23	%		129,913			506		1.56	%
Total interest-bearing deposits		421,388			503			0.48	%		444,802			798		0.72	%
FHLB advances (4)		8,821			(975	)		(44.20	)%		29,549			95		1.29	%
PPPLF borrowings		—			—			—			4,150			4		0.35	%
Other borrowings		—			—			—			1,555			10		2.69	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		430,209			(472	)		(0.44	)%		480,056			907		0.76	%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities		195,024									192,150
Total liabilities		625,233									672,206
Total stockholders' equity		121,751									107,656
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	746,984								$	779,862
Net interest income				$	7,751								$	8,341
Net interest rate spread (1)								4.69	%							4.39	%
Net interest-earning assets (2)	$	254,432								$	237,752
Net interest margin (3)								4.53	%							4.65	%
Average interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities		159.14	%								149.53	%

(1)	Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted average rate of interest-bearing liabilities.
(2)	Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.
(3)	Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.
(4)	Interest and yield/rate for FHLB advances is negative as a result of paying off FHLB advances and recognizing $1.0 million in accretion from the marks on acquired advances.

AFFINITY BANCSHARES, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
	March 31, 2022			December 31, 2021
	(unaudited)			(audited)
	(In thousands)
Assets
Cash and due from banks, including reserve requirement of $0 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021	$	14,302		$	16,239
Interest-earning deposits in other depository institutions		55,596			95,537
Cash and cash equivalents		69,898			111,776
Investment securities available-for-sale		45,911			48,557
Other investments		1,022			2,476
Loans, net		592,887			575,825
Other real estate owned		3,538			3,538
Premises and equipment, net		3,955			3,783
Bank owned life insurance		15,462			15,377
Intangible assets		18,701			18,749
Accrued interest receivable and other assets		8,834			8,007
Total assets	$	760,208		$	788,088
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities:
Savings accounts	$	86,717		$	86,745
Interest-bearing checking		95,555			91,387
Market rate checking		151,443			145,969
Non-interest-bearing checking		202,042			193,940
Certificates of deposit		92,288			96,758
Total deposits		628,045			614,799
Federal Home Loan Bank advances		10,000			48,988
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities		5,805			3,333
Total liabilities		643,850			667,120
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock (par value $0.01 per share, 40,000,000 shares authorized; 6,618,685 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2022 and 6,872,634 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021)		66			69
Preferred stock (10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares outstanding at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021)		—			—
Additional paid in capital		64,241			68,038
Unearned ESOP shares		(4,952	)		(5,004	)
Retained earnings		60,014			58,223
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(3,011	)		(358	)
Total stockholders' equity		116,358			120,968
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	760,208		$	788,088

AFFINITY BANCSHARES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2022			2021
	(In thousands)
Interest income:
Loans, including fees	$	6,996		$	9,094
Investment securities, including dividends		266			112
Interest-earning deposits		17			42
Total interest income		7,279			9,248
Interest expense:
Deposits		503			798
Borrowings		(975	)		109
Total interest expense		(472	)		907
Net interest income before provision for loan losses		7,751			8,341
Provision for loan losses		250			450
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		7,501			7,891
Noninterest income:
Service charges on deposit accounts		392			334
Other		203			395
Total noninterest income		595			729
Noninterest expenses:
Salaries and employee benefits		2,942			2,383
Deferred compensation		66			64
Occupancy		582			1,052
Advertising		80			80
Data processing		494			481
Other real estate owned		—			12
Net (gain) loss on sale of other real estate owned		—			(1	)
Legal and accounting		182			177
Organizational dues and subscriptions		131			71
Director compensation		51			50
Federal deposit insurance premiums		60			73
Writedown of premises and equipment		—			873
FHLB prepayment penalties		647			—
Other		523			577
Total noninterest expenses		5,758			5,892
Income before income taxes		2,338			2,728
Income tax expense		547			596
Net income	$	1,791		$	2,132
Basic earnings per share	$	0.26		$	0.31
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.26		$	0.31

Explanation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Reported amounts are presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company’s management believes that the supplemental non-GAAP information, which consists of reported net income less interest and fees income on PPP loans plus expenses related to the write-off of a branch building and lease provides a better comparison of the amount of the Company’s earnings. Management also believes that reported loans less PPP loans, deferred loan fees and other loan adjustments (consisting of loans in process), provides a better comparison of the amount of the Company’s loan portfolio. Additionally, the Company believes this information is utilized by regulators and market analysts to evaluate a company’s financial condition and, therefore, such information is useful to investors. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial results in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be presented by other companies. Refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation table at the end of this document for details on the earnings impact of these items.

	March 31, 2022		December 31, 2021		September 30, 2021		June 30, 2021		March 31, 2021
	(In thousands)
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
Total Loans	$	601,693	$	584,384	$	571,170	$	590,011	$	626,096
Plus:
Fair Value Marks		1,239		1,350		1,422		1,529		1,607
Deferred Loan fees		958		958		1,077		1,666		2,466
Less:
Payroll Protection
Program Loans		7,146		18,124		32,204		73,020		126,054
Indirect Auto
Dealer Reserve		2,058		1,846		1,724		1,495		1,302
Other Loan
Adjustments		69		224		102		447		0
Gross Loans	$	594,617	$	566,498	$	539,639	$	518,244	$	502,813
	March 31, 2022		December 31, 2021		September 30, 2021		June 30, 2021		March 31, 2021
	(In thousands)
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
Net Income	$	1,791	$	1,318	$	1,805	$	2,318	$	2,132
Less:
PPP Interest Income		30		59		121		269		312
PPP Fee Income		174		271		741		1,419		2,578
Plus:
Branch Building and
Lease Write-Off										1,186
Tax Effect		47		84		208		403		372
Non-GAAP Net Income	$	1,634	$	1,072	$	1,151	$	1,033	$	800