ES Bancshares, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Results; Continues Positive Trend of Net Income and Net Interest Margin Expansion

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ES Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: ESBS) (the “Company”) the holding company for Empire State Bank, (the “Bank”) today reported net income of $546 thousand, or $0.08 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, compared to a net income of $466 thousand, or $0.07 per diluted common share for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.

Key Quarterly Financial Data								2025 Highlights
Performance Metrics	1Q25		4Q24			1Q24		• The Cost of Funds for the three months ended March 31, 2025, improved to 2.69% from 2.87% in the prior linked quarter. • For 3 months ended March 31, 2025, the Company’s net interest margin increased to 2.68% compared to 2.50% for the 3 months ended December 31, 2024. • The Company sold $3 million in SBA 7a loan during the quarter, resulting in a gain on loan sale. • The Company generated $236 thousand more in net interest income from the prior quarter. • Book value for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, totaled $6.97 per share increasing for the fourth consecutive quarter.
Return on average assets (%)		0.35		0.29		(0.07	)
Return on average equity (%)		4.53		3.94		(0.90	)
Return on average tangible equity (%)		4.59		3.99		(0.91	)
Net interest margin (%)		2.68		2.50		2.12
Income Statement (a)	1Q25		4Q24			1Q24
Net interest income	$	4,112	$	3,876	$	3,203
Non-interest income	$	349	$	372	$	215
Net income	$	546	$	466	$	(103	)
Earnings per diluted common share	$	0.08	$	0.07	$	(0.02	)
Balance Sheet (a)	1Q25		4Q24			1Q24
Average total loans	$	568,508	$	566,031	$	567,526
Average total deposits	$	506,524	$	512,925	$	486,323
Book value per share	$	6.97	$	6.89	$	6.75
Tangible book value per share	$	6.89	$	6.81	$	6.67
(a) In thousands except for per share amounts

Phil Guarnieri, Director, and Chief Executive Officer of ES Bancshares said, “The first quarter of 2025 showed continued growth in net income, which is a result of management’s focus on interest rates and our containment of non-interest expenses. The recent turmoil in the market due to the uncertainty of tariffs is causing unforeseen challenges but our flexibility allows us to adapt to these changing economic conditions.”

Selected Balance Sheet Information:

March 31, 2025 vs. December 31, 2024

As of March 31, 2025, total assets were $631.5 million, a decrease of $5.2 million, or 0.8%, as compared to total assets of $636.7 million on December 31, 2024. The decrease can be attributed to a slightly smaller loan portfolio.

Loans receivable, net of Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans totaled $561.4 million, an increase of 0.4% from December 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2025, the Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans as a percentage of gross loans was 0.91%.

Nonperforming assets, which includes nonaccrual loans and foreclosed real estate were $5.5 million or 0.86% of total assets, as of March 31, 2025, increasing from $5.3 million or 0.84% of total assets at December 31, 2024. The ratio of nonaccrual loans to loans receivable was 0.96%, as of March 31, 2025, and 0.94% for December 31, 2024. The increase from December 31, 2024, was primarily due to two commercial loans being placed on non-accrual status. One loan has a SBA guaranty and the other loan has a 50% loss sharing agreement.

Total liabilities decreased $6.0 million to $583.2 million at March 31, 2025, from $589.2 million at December 31, 2024. The decrease can be attributed to a decrease in core deposits partially offset by overnight Federal Home Loan (FHLB) borrowings and growth in brokered deposits. The reduction in deposits was driven by a decrease in interest-bearing deposits, specifically 1031 exchange accounts as those deposits are short-term in nature.

As of March 31, 2025, the Bank's Tier 1 capital leverage ratio, common equity tier 1 capital ratio, Tier 1 capital ratio and total capital ratios were 9.46%, 13.81%, 13.81% and 15.06%, respectively, all in excess of the ratios required to be deemed "well-capitalized." During the first quarter of 2025 the Company did not repurchase shares under its stock repurchase program. Book value per common share was $6.97 at March 31, 2025 compared to $6.89 at December 31, 2024. Tangible common book value per share (which represents common equity less goodwill, divided by the number of shares outstanding) was $6.89 at March 31, 2025 compared to $6.81 at December 31, 2024.

Financial Performance Overview:

Three Months Ended March 31, 2025, vs. December 31, 2024

For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the Company net income totaled $546 thousand compared to a net income of $466 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The increase can be attributed to higher net interest income partially offset by lower non-interest income and higher non-interest expenses, quarter over quarter.

Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2025, increased $236 thousand, to $4.1 million from $3.9 million at three months ended December 31, 2024. The Company’s net interest margin widened by eighteen basis points to 2.68% for the three months ended March 31, 2025, as compared to 2.50% for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The increase in margin can be attributed to a reduction of 12 basis points in the Company’s average cost for its interest-bearing liabilities.

There was a $30 thousand reversal for credit losses taken for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to a provision for credit losses of $2 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The reversal for credit losses was due to lower ACL for investments and off-balance sheet positions, partially offset by an increase in the ACL for loans.

Non-interest income decreased $23 thousand, to $349 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared with non-interest income of $372 thousand for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The majority of the decreases can be attributed to lower service charges and fees and lower gain on loan sales.

Non-interest expenses totaled $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $3.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The largest fluctuations quarter over quarter were due to a $88 thousand increase in professional fees, due to larger legal expenses, an increase in compensation and benefits due to additional hires, and increased advertising expenses, partially offset by $47 thousand decrease in other expenses.

About ES Bancshares Inc.
ES Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) is incorporated under Maryland law and serves as the holding company for Empire State Bank (the “Bank”). The Company is subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System while the Bank is primarily subject to regulation and supervision by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Currently, the Company does not transact any material business other than through the Bank, its subsidiary.

The Bank was organized under federal law in 2004 as a national bank regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Bank's deposits are insured up to legal limits by the FDIC. In March 2009, the Bank converted its charter to a New York State commercial bank charter. The Bank’s principal business is attracting commercial and retail deposits in New York and investing those deposits primarily in loans, consisting of commercial real estate loans, and other commercial loans including SBA and mortgage loans secured by one-to-four-family residences. In addition, the Bank invests in mortgage-backed securities, securities issued by the U.S. Government and agencies thereof, corporate securities and other investments permitted by applicable law and regulations.

We operate from our five Banking Center locations, a Loan Production Office and our Corporate Headquarters located in Staten Island, New York. The Company’s website address is www.esbna.com. The Company’s annual report, quarterly earnings releases and all press releases are available free of charge through its website, as soon as reasonably practicable.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained in this release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate” or “continue” or comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within ES Bancshares, Inc’s. control. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date of this release. We have no intention, and do not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

Investor Contact:
Peggy Edwards, Corporate Secretary
[phone]

ES Bancshares, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(in thousands)
		March 31,			December 31,
		2025			2024
		|----(unaudited)----|
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	22,794			26,713
Securities, net		22,249			22,336
Loans receivable, net:
Real estate mortgage loans		542,524			545,569
Commercial and Lines of Credit		19,617			14,418
Home Equity and Consumer Loans		386			398
Deferred costs		3,978			4,084
Allowance for Loan Credit Losses		(5,150	)		(5,137	)
Total loans receivable, net		561,355			559,330
Accrued interest receivable		2,641			2,628
Investment in restricted stock, at cost		4,778			4,335
Goodwill		581			581
Bank premises and equipment, net		4,635			4,845
Repossessed assets		-			-
Right of use lease assets		5,677			5,894
Bank Owned Life Insurance		5,527			5,489
Other Assets		1,274			4,589
Total Assets	$	631,511			636,739
Liabilities & Stockholders' Equity
Non-Interest-Bearing Deposits		105,162			97,490
Interest-Bearing Deposits		369,660			395,593
Brokered Deposits		23,025			20,750
Total Deposits		497,847			513,833
Bond Issue, net of costs		11,797			11,787
Borrowed Money		59,898			50,083
Lease Liability		5,959			6,172
Other Liabilities		7,701			7,313
Total Liabilities		583,202			589,188
Stockholders' equity		48,309			47,551
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	631,511			636,739

        

	ES Bancshares, Inc.
	Consolidated Statements of Income
	(in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2025			December 31, 2024			March 31, 2024
	|--------------(unaudited)--------------|
Interest income
Loans	$	7,478		$	7,405		$	7,208
Securities		213			224			115
Other interest-earning assets		243			373			263
Total Interest Income		7,934			8,002			7,586
Interest expense
Deposits		3,118			3,436			3,585
Borrowings		704			690			798
Total Interest Expense		3,822			4,126			4,383
Net Interest Income		4,112			3,876			3,203
(Rev)Prov for Credit Losses		(30	)		2			39
Net Interest Income after (Rev)Prov for Credit Losses		4,142			3,874			3,164
Non-interest income
Service charges and fees		175			192			172
Gain on loan sales		132			139			1
Gain on extinguishment of Sub-debt		-			-			-
Other		42			41			42
Total non-interest income		349			372			215
Non-interest expenses
Compensation and benefits		1,689			1,662			1,721
Occupancy and equipment		669			618			668
Data processing service fees		315			295			326
Professional fees		335			247			181
FDIC & NYS Banking Assessments		113			132			97
Advertising		89			64			75
Insurance		53			56			50
Other		471			518			337
Total non-interest expense		3,734			3,592			3,455
Income prior to tax expense		757			654			(76	)
Income taxes		211			188			27
Net Income	$	546		$	466		$	(103	)

	ES Bancshares, Inc.
	Average Balance Sheet Data
	For the Three Months Ended (dollars in thousands)
	March 31, 2025						December 31, 2024						September 30, 2024
	Avg Bal		Interest		Average		Avg Bal		Interest		Average		Avg Bal		Interest		Average
	Rolling		Rolling				Rolling		Rolling				Rolling		Rolling
Assets	3 Mos.		3 Mos.		Yield/Cost		3 Mos.		3 Mos.		Yield/Cost		3 Mos.		3 Mos.		Yield/Cost
Interest-earning assets:
Loans receivable	$	568,508	$	7,478	5.26	%	$	564,745	$	7,405	5.24	%	$	566,031	$	7,315	5.17	%
Investment securities		22,839		213	3.73	%		22,898		224	3.91	%		22,480		218	3.87	%
Other interest-earning assets		21,343		243	4.55	%		31,135		373	4.69	%		31,656		428	5.29	%
Total interest-earning assets		612,690		7,934	5.18	%		618,778		8,002	5.17	%		620,167		7,961	5.13	%
Non-interest earning assets		19,077						18,048						17,919
Total assets	$	631,767					$	636,826					$	638,086
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing checking	$	36,869	$	31	0.34	%	$	32,800	$	27	0.33	%	$	33,512	$	55	0.65	%
Savings accounts		205,503		1,443	2.85	%		217,746		1,695	3.09	%		200,248		1,728	3.42	%
Certificates of deposit		166,005		1,644	4.02	%		166,368		1,714	4.09	%		173,577		1,891	4.32	%
Total interest-bearing deposits		408,377		3,118	3.10	%		416,914		3,436	3.27	%		407,337		3,674	3.58	%
Borrowings		50,124		514	4.16	%		50,189		499	3.94	%		52,984		519	3.89	%
Subordinated debenture		11,793		190	6.44	%		11,784		191	6.43	%		13,726		201	5.81	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities		470,294		3,822	3.30	%		478,887		4,126	3.42	%		474,047		4,394	3.68	%
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits		98,147						96,011						104,782
Other liabilities		15,188						14,581						13,046
Total non-interest-bearing liabilities		113,335						110,592						117,828
Stockholders' equity		48,138						47,347						46,211
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	631,767					$	636,826					$	638,086
Net interest income			$	4,112					$	3,876					$	3,567
Average interest rate spread					1.88	%					1.75	%					1.46	%
Net interest margin					2.68	%					2.50	%					2.30	%

Five Quarter Performance Ratio Highlights		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2025		December 31, 2024		September 30, 2024		June 30, 2024		March 31, 2024
Performance Ratios (%) - annualized
	Return(loss) on Average Assets		0.35		0.29		0.36		0.10		(0.07	)
	Return(loss) on Average Equity		4.53		3.94		4.98		1.37		(0.90	)
	Return(loss) on Average Tangible Equity		4.59		3.99		5.04		1.38		(0.91	)
	Efficiency Ratio		83.71		84.58		81.70		92.86		101.08
Yields / Costs (%)
	Average Yield - Interest Earning Assets		5.18		5.17		5.13		5.16		5.03
	Average Cost - Interest-bearing Liabilities		3.30		3.42		3.69		3.86		3.82
	Net Interest Margin		2.68		2.50		2.30		2.21		2.12
Capital Ratios (%)
	Equity / Assets		7.65		7.47		7.44		7.12		7.34
	Tangible Equity / Assets		7.56		7.38		7.36		7.03		7.26
	Tier I leverage ratio (a)		9.46		9.31		9.18		9.30		9.52
	Common equity Tier I capital ratio (a)		13.81		13.68		13.67		13.81		13.63
	Tier 1 Risk-based capital ratio (a)		13.81		13.68		13.67		13.81		13.63
	Total Risk-based capital ratio (a)		15.06		14.93		14.92		15.06		14.88
Stock Valuation
	Book Value	$	6.97	$	6.89	$	6.85	$	6.74	$	6.75
	Tangible Book Value	$	6.89	$	6.81	$	6.77	$	6.65	$	6.67
	Shares Outstanding (b)		6,927		6,900		6,878		6,884		6,834
Asset Quality (%)
	ACL / Total Loans		0.91		0.91		0.90		0.90		0.89
	Non Performing Loans / Total Loans		0.96		0.94		0.91		0.22		0.24
	Non Performing Assets / Total Assets		0.86		0.84		0.81		0.19		0.21
	(a) Ratios at Bank level (b) Shares information presented in thousands