Solera National Bancorp Announces Second Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Quarterly earnings continue to soar topping $4.0 million, pre-tax.

LAKEWOOD, CO / ACCESSWIRE / July 22, 2021 / Solera National Bancorp, Inc. (OTC PINK:SLRK) ("Company"), the holding company for Solera National Bank ("Bank"), a business-focused bank primarily serving the Denver metropolitan area, today reported financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2021.

Highlights for the quarter and six-months ended June 30, 2021 include:

• Pre-tax, pre-provision income climbed to a new record during second quarter 2021 at $4.0 million compared to $3.2 million for first quarter 2021.
• YTD net income was up 157% at $5.07 million for the six-months ended June 30, 2021 compared to $1.97 million for the six-months ended June 30, 2020.
• Cost of funds remained consistent at 19 basis points for both the second quarter and year-to-date 2021; this is a 54%, or 22 basis point, improvement over the 0.41% cost of funds for the six-months ended June 30, 2020.
• The Company's impressive efficiency ratio remained stable throughout first half of 2021 averaging 33.8% for the six-months ended June 30, 2021.
• Traditional gross loans continued their controlled growth increasing 7%, or $21.5 million, during the second quarter 2021.
• Noninterest-bearing deposits climbed 23%, or $62.3 million, quarter-over-quarter and $146.7 million, or 78%, year-over-year ending June 30, 2021 at $334.6 million.
• Asset quality remained healthy with a modest level of criticized assets of 3.49% of total assets. However, nonperforming assets worsened to 1.28% of total assets as of June 30, 2021.
• Return on average assets of 2.26% for the three months ended June 30, 2021, was impressive but inflated by $462,000 of gains on the sales of securities and virtually no provision for loan losses recorded. Net of the securities gains, ROAA would have been approximately 1.92%.
• Return on average equity was similarly impacted by the aforementioned items allowing the metric to accelerate to 23.8% for the three-months ended June 30, 2021 compared to 16.5% for the linked quarter. Similarly, net of the securities gains, ROAE would have been approximately 20.19%.

For the six-months ended June 30, 2021, the Company reported net income of $5.07 million, or $1.18 per share, compared to $1.97 million, or $0.48 per share, for the six-months ended June 30, 2020. Martin P. May, President and CEO, commented: "Solera had yet another quarter of exciting results to share with our stockholders. Franchise value continues to make meaningful strides forward and I'm proud that the team's unwavering dedication to taking care of our customers is being displayed so clearly in our results."

Operational Highlights 

Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses was $5.00 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 compared to $3.74 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 and $2.55 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses for the six-months ended June 30, 2021 of $8.74 million increased $4.0 million, or 84%, from the same prior year period. This improvement was partially aided by lower provision expense ($400,000 less) and an increase in interest and fee income earned on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans ($1.82 million higher).

Year-over-year rates on loans are down, but loan growth has led to a $1.22 million, or 24%, increase in interest and fees on traditional loans for the first six-months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. Further contributing to the growth in net interest income was the $159,000 decline in interest expense for the first six-months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 despite the $126.7 million increase in total deposits during this time.

For the six-months ended June 30, 2021, net interest margin increased 18 basis points to 3.84% from 3.66% for the six-months ended June 30, 2020. Mr. May commented: "The improvement in the Bank's net interest margin comes exclusively from the progress made on cost of funds, which declined 54% year-over-year. Without this progress, the Bank would be experiencing margin compression due to the low interest rate environment and the extremely competitive market for high-quality borrowers, which are demanding low interest rates." For the second quarter 2021, net interest margin was 3.88%, up 9 basis points from 3.79% for the linked quarter, and up 38 basis points from 3.50% for second quarter 2020.

Total noninterest income in second quarter 2021 was $929,000 compared to $368,000 for the linked quarter. The increase in second quarter 2021 was due to gains on the sale of investment securities totaling $462,000 compared to $48,000 for first quarter 2021. Additionally, customer service and other fees improved 71% quarter-over-quarter, from $206,000 for first quarter 2021 to $353,000 for second quarter 2021 due to the increased number of customers serviced by the Bank and expanded product offerings. For the six-months ended June 30, 2021, noninterest income was $1.30 million, a $604,000 improvement over the $693,000 earned during the first six months of 2020.

Total noninterest expense in second quarter 2021 was $1.92 million, compared with $1.51 million for first quarter 2021. For the six-months ended June 30, 2021, total noninterest expense was $3.42 million compared with $2.94 million for the same prior-year period. The increases are the result of franchise growth creating a need for additional resources, primarily personnel, and higher costs directly correlated with more customers. Noninterest expenses have remained well managed throughout the Bank's rapid growth, at 1.68% of average assets (excluding PPP loans) for the six-months ended June 30, 2021 compared to 1.99% for the six-months ended June 30, 2020.

The Company's second quarter 2021 efficiency ratio (noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income) remained notable at 35.06% compared to 32.26% for the linked quarter. The efficiency ratio for the six-months ended June 30, 2021 was a marked improvement at 33.77% compared to 47.75% for the six-months ended June 30, 2020.

The Company's income tax expense is approximately 23%, which is a combined rate of 21% for Federal and approximately 4% for State, aided by tax concessions on tax-exempt securities.

Balance Sheet Review and Asset Quality Strength 

Total assets of $531.99 million at June 30, 2021 declined 3%, or $19.13 million from $551.12 million at March 31, 2021 and increased 35%, or $136.79 million from $395.20 million at June 30, 2020. The decrease compared to the linked quarter was primarily due to the net decline in PPP loans as forgiveness outpaced new originations. During second quarter 2021, the Bank funded 78 new PPP loans totaling $5.87 million and received forgiveness on 243 PPP loans totaling $43.80 million. This decline was partially offset by growth in the Bank's traditional loan portfolio of $21.48 million. Total asset growth from June 30, 2020 to June 30, 2021 consisted of PPP loans ($108.97 million), a 50% expansion in traditional loans ($107.02 million), additions to the investment portfolio ($18.81 million) and a $4.71 million increase in premises and equipment primarily for a corporate jet.

The allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) at June 30, 2021 was unchanged from the linked quarter at $5.50 million, or 1.67% of gross traditional loans, compared to 1.79% of gross traditional loans at March 31, 2021, and $3.77 million, or 1.72% of gross loans at June 30, 2020. Total criticized assets of $18.59 million at June 30, 2021 remained relatively flat compared to the linked quarter, $18.29 million at March 31, 2021 and increased from $13.72 million at June 30, 2020. Criticized assets to total assets remain manageable at 3.49% of total assets as of June 30, 2021 compared to 3.47% as of June 30, 2020. Non-performing loans increased from $955,000 to $6.80 million at June 30, 2021. Ms. Melissa K. Larkin, Chief Financial Officer noted: "Ironically, this change was the primary driver behind a flat ALLL for the quarter, despite the increase in the size the Bank's traditional loan portfolio. When a loan moves to nonaccrual, a specific impairment test is required by GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles). Since this particular loan is well secured, the specific reserve calculation was less than that applied under the pooled analysis and led to the reduction in the Bank's ALLL as a percentage of gross loans for second quarter 2021."

Total investment securities available-for-sale declined to $73.31 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $74.07 million at March 31, 2021 and increased from $58.50 million at June 30, 2020. Held-to-maturity investment securities were essentially unchanged from the linked quarter at $10.42 million and increased $4.01 million from June 30, 2020. For the six-months ended June 30, 2021, the Company realized $510,000 in gains on the sale of $18.51 million in corporate and municipal bonds.

Total deposits at June 30, 2021 were $467.47 million compared to $445.18 million at March 31, 2021 and $340.72 million at June 30, 2020. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits of $334.62 million, which represent 72% of total deposits, at June 30, 2021 increased $62.33 million, or 23%, versus the linked quarter, and increased $146.74 million from $187.88 million at June 30, 2020. Most other funding sources including short-term borrowings, time deposits and savings and money market deposits declined during second quarter 2021. The majority of these funds were short-term sources used to help fund the volume of PPP loans originated by the Bank and have declined, as expected, given the influx of cash as PPP loans have been forgiven.

Commercial and residential loans past due have remained inconsequential for all periods presented, with the only notable past dues coming from the student loan participation pool. $2.06 million of the student loan participation pool were 30 days+ past due at June 30, 2021. This was down slightly from $2.41 million 30 days+ past due at March 31, 2021. Of the $2.06 million past due, $1.19 million were 90 days+ past due as of June 30, 2021. The student loans are backed by an approximately 97.5% guarantee of the U.S. Treasury under the Higher Education Act of 1965. This guarantee includes all principal and interest so net credit losses in this portfolio are expected to be minimal. Additionally, the Bank purchased the pool at a discount resulting in the Bank's maximum exposure to credit losses slightly less than 1%.

Capital Strength 

The Company's capital ratios continue to be well in excess of the highest required regulatory benchmark levels. Last year, the Bank elected to adopt the community bank leverage ratio (CBLR) as allowed by federal banking agencies for qualified institutions. The CBLR provides for a simple measure of capital adequacy and is calculated by taking Tier 1 capital divided by average total assets for the quarter. Solera calculates the CBLR using Bank-only financial statements. As of June 30, 2021, the Bank's CBLR was 9.6%, which is above the required 9% minimum to qualify for using this simplified method. The Bank's CBLR was 10.1% at March 31, 2021 and 11.0% at June 30, 2020. The declining trend is a direct result of asset growth. Removing PPP loans from the Bank's balance sheet, the Bank's CBLR would have been 12.4% at June 30, 2021, 13.1% at March 31, 2021 and 13.3% at June 30, 2020.

Tangible book value per share, including accumulated other comprehensive income, was $12.60 at June 30, 2021 compared to $11.40 at March 31, 2021, and $10.47 at June 30, 2020. Total stockholders' equity was $54.16 million at June 30, 2021 compared to $48.92 million at March 31, 2021 and $43.40 million at June 30, 2020. Total stockholders' equity at June 30, 2021 included an accumulated other comprehensive gain of $1.58 million compared to a loss of $512,000 at March 31, 2021 and a gain of $1.02 million at June 30, 2020. The fair value of the Bank's available-for-sale investment portfolio increased as of June 30, 2021 due to a drop in longer-term interest rates.

The Company's retained earnings continued to increase, reaching $13.79 million at June 30, 2021, a 190% increase from $4.75 million at June 30, 2020.

Annual Meeting 

Ms. Larkin commented: "The Company's Annual Meeting material should be arriving via mail in mid-August. Please be sure to review the material and vote. The meeting will be held at the Bank's main location, 319 S. Sheridan Blvd. Lakewood, CO. Shareholders are invited to attend in person but may also vote electronically. We are grateful for your continued support of Solera."

About Solera National Bancorp, Inc. 

Solera National Bancorp, Inc. was incorporated in 2006 to organize and serve as the holding company for Solera National Bank, which opened for business in September 2007. Solera National Bank is a community bank serving the needs of emerging businesses and real estate investors. At the core of Solera National Bank is welcoming, attentive and respectful customer service, a focus on supporting a diverse economy, and a passion to serve our community through service, education and volunteerism. For more information, please visit http://www.SoleraBank.com.

This press release contains statements that may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts and that relate to future plans or projected results of Solera National Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Solera National Bank, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Readers of this release are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Contacts: Martin P. May, President & CEO [phone] and Melissa K. Larkin, EVP & CFO [phone]

**FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW**

SOLERA NATIONAL BANCORP, INC.  CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  (unaudited)
($000s)		6/30/2021				3/31/2021				12/31/2020				9/30/2020				6/30/2020
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks		$	2,525			$	2,418			$	4,384			$	2,339			$	4,016
Federal funds sold			2,700				2,000				6,200				6,000				1,100
Interest-bearing deposits with banks			880				828				807				824				792
Investment securities, available-for-sale			73,308				74,074				52,877				42,225				58,503
Investment securities, held-to-maturity			10,421				10,420				10,418				10,416				6,414
FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank stocks, at cost			2,330				2,766				1,322				1,256				1,256
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, gross			97,172				135,102				73,705				93,372				93,682
Net deferred (fees)/expenses, PPP loans			(3,118	)			(3,781	)			(1,520	)			(2,328	)			(2,707	)
Net PPP loans			94,054				131,321				72,185				91,044				90,975
Traditional loans, gross			328,633				307,304				271,184				238,400				219,818
Net deferred (fees)/expenses, traditional loans			(688	)			(850	)			(782	)			(764	)			(619	)
Allowance for loan and lease losses			(5,500	)			(5,500	)			(4,900	)			(4,124	)			(3,773	)
Net traditional loans			322,445				300,954				265,502				233,512				215,426
Premises and equipment, net			13,019				13,093				13,155				8,287				8,310
Accrued interest receivable			2,080				2,444				1,886				1,855				1,450
Bank-owned life insurance			4,989				4,963				4,937				4,910				4,883
Other assets			3,241				5,839				2,119				2,010				2,073
TOTAL ASSETS		$	531,992			$	551,120			$	435,792			$	404,678			$	395,198
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits		$	334,620			$	272,288			$	235,172			$	210,496			$	187,876
Interest-bearing demand deposits			15,979				15,487				12,576				8,961				9,234
Savings and money market deposits			89,223				107,202				83,399				61,143				65,460
Time deposits			27,647				50,207				50,999				59,089				78,150
Total deposits			467,469				445,184				382,146				339,689				340,720
Accrued interest payable			41				54				50				68				84
Short-term borrowings			4,735				34,133				-				14,000				5,000
Long-term FHLB borrowings			4,000				4,000				4,000				4,000				4,000
Accounts payable and other liabilities			1,589				18,828				1,566				941				1,993
TOTAL LIABILITIES			477,834				502,199				387,762				358,698				351,797
Common stock			43				43				43				43				41
Additional paid-in capital			38,748				38,668				38,518				38,518				37,587
Retained earnings			13,786				10,722				8,718				6,870				4,753
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) gain			1,581				(512	)			751				549				1,020
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY			54,158				48,921				48,030				45,980				43,401
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		$	531,992			$	551,120			$	435,792			$	404,678			$	395,198

 

SOLERA NATIONAL BANCORP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)
		Three Months Ended																				Six Months Ended
($000s, except per share data)		6/30/2021				3/31/2021				12/31/2020				9/30/2020				6/30/2020				6/30/2021				6/30/2020
Interest and dividend income
Interest and fees on traditional loans		$	3,298			$	3,005			$	2,792			$	2,596			$	2,485			$	6,303			$	5,082
Interest and fees on PPP loans			1,259				986				1,027				616				426				2,245				426
Investment securities			647				533				411				388				414				1,180				703
Dividends on bank stocks			29				26				15				15				15				55				32
Other			3				3				3				3				4				6				102
Total interest income			5,236				4,553				4,248				3,618				3,344				9,789				6,345
Interest expense
Deposits			200				174				187				221				257				374				547
FHLB & Fed borrowings			33				31				18				19				33				64				50
Total interest expense			233				205				205				240				290				438				597
Net interest income			5,003				4,348				4,043				3,378				3,054				9,351				5,748
Provision for loan and lease losses			5				605				782				355				504				610				1,010
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses			4,998				3,743				3,261				3,023				2,550				8,741				4,738
Noninterest income
Customer service and other fees			353				206				135				103				104				559				184
Other income			114				114				115				118				100				228				215
Gain on sale of loan			-				-				84				-				-				-				-
Gain on sale of securities			462				48				316				866				279				510				294
Total noninterest income			929				368				650				1,087				483				1,297				693
Noninterest expense
Employee compensation and benefits			1,085				811				891				878				918				1,896				1,807
Occupancy			165				155				106				109				104				320				205
Professional fees			65				56				34				35				29				121				94
Other general and administrative			603				484				383				407				422				1,087				829
Total noninterest expense			1,918				1,506				1,414				1,429				1,473				3,424				2,935
Net Income Before Taxes		$	4,009			$	2,605			$	2,497			$	2,681			$	1,560			$	6,614			$	2,496
Income Tax Expense			945				601				649				564				314				1,546				527
Net Income		$	3,064			$	2,004			$	1,848			$	2,117			$	1,246			$	5,068			$	1,969
Income Per Share		$	0.71			$	0.47			$	0.43			$	0.51			$	0.30			$	1.18			$	0.48
Tangible Book Value Per Share		$	12.60			$	11.40			$	11.23			$	10.75			$	10.47			$	12.60			$	10.47
WA Shares outstanding			4,298,634				4,291,286				4,276,953				4,175,504				4,143,620				4,294,815				4,143,620
Pre-Tax Pre-Provision Income		$	4,014			$	3,210			$	3,279			$	3,036			$	2,064			$	7,224			$	3,506
Net Interest Margin			3.88	%			3.79	%			4.04	%			3.55	%			3.50	%			3.84	%			3.66	%
Cost of Funds			0.19	%			0.19	%			0.22	%			0.27	%			0.35	%			0.19	%			0.41	%
Efficiency Ratio			35.06	%			32.26	%			32.94	%			39.71	%			45.21	%			33.77	%			47.75	%
Return on Average Assets			2.26	%			1.62	%			1.76	%			2.12	%			1.43	%			2.00	%			1.21	%
Return on Average Equity			23.78	%			16.54	%			15.73	%			18.95	%			11.71	%			20.12	%			9.40	%
Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR)			9.6	%			10.1	%			11.3	%			11.4	%			11.0	%
Asset Quality:
Non-performing loans to gross loans			2.07	%			0.31	%			0.36	%			0.41	%			0.46	%
Non-performing assets to total assets			1.28	%			0.17	%			0.22	%			0.24	%			0.25	%
Allowance for loan losses to gross traditional loans			1.67	%			1.79	%			1.81	%			1.73	%			1.72	%
Criticized loans/assets:
Special mention		$	7,018			$	6,665			$	7,730			$	13,300			$	4,572
Substandard: Accruing			4,772				10,666				10,709				6,911				7,570
Substandard: Nonaccrual			6,796				955				970				987				1,002
Doubtful			-				-				-				-				-
Total criticized loans		$	18,586			$	18,286			$	19,409			$	21,198			$	13,144
Other real estate owned			-				-				-				-				-
Investment securities			-				-				-				576				577
Total criticized assets		$	18,586			$	18,286			$	19,409			$	21,774			$	13,721
Criticized assets to total assets			3.49	%			3.32	%			4.45	%			5.38	%			3.47	%

SOURCE: Solera National Bancorp, Inc.

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