Independent Bank Corporation Reports 2024 First Quarter Results

First Quarter Highlights

Highlights for the first quarter of 2024 include:

• Increases in net income and diluted earnings per share of 23.1% and 24.6%, respectively, over first quarter of 2023;
• An increase in tangible book value per share of $2.50 (15.7%) over the first quarter of 2023;
• Net growth in core deposits of $95.7 million (or 9.0% annualized) from December 31, 2023;
• Net growth in loans of $49.1 million (or 5.3% annualized) from December 31, 2023; and
• The payment of a 24 cent per share dividend on common stock on February 15, 2024.
  

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) reported first quarter 2024 net income of $16.0 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, versus net income of $13.0 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, in the prior-year period.

William B. (“Brad”) Kessel, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Independent Bank Corporation, commented: “I am very pleased with our first quarter 2024 results, driving organic growth on both sides of the balance sheet with loans up 5.3% and core deposits up 9.0%. We were able to generate net interest margin expansion, increasing to 3.30% from 3.26% on a linked quarter basis and net interest income growth on both a linked quarter basis and on a year over year quarterly basis. Expenses continue to be well managed. Our credit metrics continue to be very good, with watch credits and non-performing assets near historic lows. These fundamentals drove good growth in both our earnings per share (23%) and tangible book value per share (16%) compared to the prior year quarter. Based on the past record of our core group of professionals and the on-going addition of talented bankers to our team, we are optimistic about continuing these positive growth trends for the balance of this year and into 2025.”

Significant items impacting comparable first quarter 2024 and 2023 results include the following:

• Changes in the fair value due to price of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights (the “MSR Changes”) of  $1.3 million ($0.05 per diluted share, after taxes) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $(0.6) million ($(0.02) per diluted share, after taxes) for the three-months ended March 31, 2023.
• The provision for credit losses was an expense of $0.7 million ($0.03 per diluted share, after taxes) in the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, as compared to an expense of $2.2 million ($0.08 per diluted share, after taxes) in the first quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Operating Results

The Company’s net interest income totaled $40.2 million during the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $1.8 million, or 4.6% from the year-ago period, and an increase of $0.1 million, or 0.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2023. The Company’s tax equivalent net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets (the “net interest margin”) was 3.30% during the first quarter of 2024, compared to 3.32% in the year-ago period, and 3.26% in the fourth quarter of 2023. The year-over-year quarterly increase in net interest income was due to an increase in average interest-earning assets that was partially offset by a decrease in net interest margin. The increase in net interest income compared to the linked quarter was due to an increase in the net interest margin that was partially offset by a decrease in average interest earning assets. Average interest-earning assets were $4.91 billion in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $4.70 billion in the year ago quarter and $4.93 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Non-interest income totaled $12.6 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $10.6 million in the comparable prior year period. These changes were primarily due to variances in mortgage banking related revenues.

Net gains on mortgage loans in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, were approximately $1.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The comparative quarterly increase in net gains on mortgage loans was primarily due to an increase in the gain on sale margin on mortgage loans sold that was partially offset by a decrease in the volume of mortgage loans sold.

Mortgage loan servicing, net, generated income of $2.7 million and $0.7 million in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The significant variance in mortgage loan servicing, net is primarily due to changes in the fair value of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights associated with the magnitude of changes in mortgage loan interest rates and expected future prepayment levels between periods. Mortgage loan servicing, net activity is summarized in the following table:

	Three months ended
	3/31/2024				3/31/2023
	(In thousands)
Mortgage loan servicing, net:
Revenue, net	$	2,219			$	2,222
Fair value change due to price		1,265				(635	)
Fair value change due to pay-downs		(759	)			(861	)
Total	$	2,725			$	726

Non-interest expenses totaled $32.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $31.0 million in the year-ago period.

The Company recorded income tax expense of $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2024. This compares to an income tax expense of $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. The changes in income tax expense principally reflect changes in pre-tax earnings in 2024 relative to 2023.

Asset Quality

A breakdown of non-performing loans by loan type is as follows:

	3/31/2024				12/31/2023				3/31/2023
Loan Type	(Dollars in thousands)
Commercial	$	25			$	28			$	36
Mortgage		4,620				6,425				5,536
Installment		710				970				644
Sub total		5,355				7,423				6,216
Less - government guaranteed loans		1,665				2,191				2,330
Total non-performing loans	$	3,690			$	5,232			$	3,886
Ratio of non-performing loans to total portfolio loans		0.10	%			0.14	%			0.11	%
Ratio of non-performing assets to total assets		0.09	%			0.11	%			0.09	%
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total non-performing loans		1526.10	%			1044.69	%			1300.82	%

The provision for credit losses was an expense of $0.7 million and $2.2 million in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The quarterly change in the provision for credit losses in 2024 compared to 2023, is the result of a decrease in the provision on securities held to maturity that was partially offset by an increase in the provision on loans. We recorded loan net charge offs of $0.22 million and $1.05 million in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. At March 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses for loans totaled $56.3 million, or 1.47% of total portfolio loans compared to $54.7 million, or 1.44% of total portfolio loans at December 31, 2023.

Balance Sheet, Capital and Liquidity

Total assets were $5.23 billion at March 31, 2024, a decrease of $32.5 million from December 31, 2023. Loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $3.84 billion at March 31, 2024, compared to $3.79 billion at December 31, 2023.  Deposits totaled $4.58 billion at March 31, 2024, a decrease of $40.5 million from December 31, 2023. This decrease is primarily due to decreases in non-interest bearing and brokered time deposits that were partially offset by growth in savings and interest-bearing checking, reciprocal, and time deposits.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $161.8 million at March 31, 2024, versus $169.8 million at December 31, 2023. Securities available for sale (“AFS”) totaled $613.6 million at March 31, 2024, versus $679.4 million at December 31, 2023.

Total shareholders’ equity was $415.6 million at March 31, 2024, or 7.94% of total assets compared to $404.4 million or 7.68% at December 31, 2023. Tangible common equity totaled $385.4 million at March 31, 2024, or $18.44 per share compared to $374.1 million or $17.96 per share at December 31, 2023. The increase in shareholder equity as well as tangible common equity are primarily the result of earnings retention.

The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Independent Bank, remains significantly above “well capitalized” for regulatory purposes with the following ratios:

Regulatory Capital Ratios	3/31/2024			12/31/2023			Well Capitalized Minimum
Tier 1 capital to average total assets	9.05	%		8.80	%		5.00	%
Tier 1 common equity  to risk-weighted assets	11.37	%		11.21	%		6.50	%
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets	11.37	%		11.21	%		8.00	%
Total capital to risk-weighted assets	12.62	%		12.46	%		10.00	%

At March 31, 2024, in addition to liquidity available from our normal operating, funding, and investing activities, we had unused credit lines with the FHLB and FRB of approximately $1.072 billion and $496.0 million, respectively. We also had approximately $811.3 million in fair value of unpledged securities AFS and HTM at March 31, 2024 which could be pledged for an estimated additional borrowing capacity at the FHLB and FRB of approximately $754.9 million.

Share Repurchase Plan

On December 19, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the 2024 share repurchase plan. Under the terms of the 2024 share repurchase plan, the Company is authorized to purchase up to 1,100,000 shares, or approximately 5% of its then outstanding common stock. The repurchase plan is authorized to last through December 31, 2024. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock during the first three months of 2024.

Earnings Conference Call

Brad Kessel, President and CEO, Gavin Mohr, CFO and Joel Rahn, EVP – Commercial Banking will review the quarterly results in a conference call for investors and analysts beginning at 11:00 am ET on Thursday, April 25, 2024.

To participate in the live conference call, please dial 1-833-470-1428 (Access Code # 206213). Also, the conference call will be accessible through an audio webcast with user-controlled slides via the following site/URL: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/312593309. 

A playback of the call can be accessed by dialing 1-866-813-9403 (Access Code # 265107). The replay will be available through May 3, 2024.

About Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) is a Michigan-based bank holding company with total assets of approximately $5.2 billion. Founded as First National Bank of Ionia in 1864, Independent Bank Corporation operates a branch network across Michigan's Lower Peninsula through one state-chartered bank subsidiary. This subsidiary (Independent Bank) provides a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage lending, consumer banking, investments and insurance. Independent Bank Corporation is committed to providing exceptional personal service and value to its customers, stockholders and the communities it serves.

For more information, please visit our Web site at: IndependentBank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This presentation contains forward-looking statements, which are any statements or information that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements include statements about our anticipated future revenue and expenses and our future plans and prospects.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For example, deterioration in general business and economic conditions or turbulence in domestic or global financial markets could adversely affect our revenues and the values of our assets and liabilities, reduce the availability of funding to us, lead to a tightening of credit, and increase stock price volatility. Our results could also be adversely affected by changes in interest rates; increases in unemployment rates; deterioration in the credit quality of our loan portfolios or in the value of the collateral securing those loans; deterioration in the value of our investment securities; legal and regulatory developments; changes in customer behavior and preferences; breaches in data security; and management’s ability to effectively manage the multitude of risks facing our business. Key risk factors that could affect our future results are described in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the other reports we file with the SEC, including under the heading “Risk Factors.” Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of our future results.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contact:

William B. Kessel, President and CEO, 616.447.3933 Gavin A. Mohr, Chief Financial Officer, 616.447.3929

INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

		March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023
		(Unaudited)
		(In thousands, except share amounts)
Assets
Cash and due from banks		$	41,646			$	68,208
Interest bearing deposits			120,198				101,573
Cash and Cash Equivalents			161,844				169,781
Securities available for sale			613,620				679,350
Securities held to maturity (fair value of $311,013 at March 31, 2024 and $318,606 at December 31, 2023)			349,957				353,988
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock, at cost			16,821				16,821
Loans held for sale, carried at fair value			8,935				12,063
Loans
Commercial			1,735,284				1,679,731
Mortgage			1,490,441				1,485,872
Installment			614,240				625,298
Total Loans			3,839,965				3,790,901
Allowance for credit losses			(56,313	)			(54,658	)
Net Loans			3,783,652				3,736,243
Other real estate and repossessed assets, net			1,059				569
Property and equipment, net			34,587				35,523
Bank-owned life insurance			53,633				54,341
Capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights, carried at fair value			43,577				42,243
Other intangibles			1,875				2,004
Goodwill			28,300				28,300
Accrued income and other assets			133,395				132,500
Total Assets		$	5,231,255			$	5,263,726
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Deposits
Non-interest bearing		$	1,034,605			$	1,076,093
Savings and interest-bearing checking			1,935,451				1,905,701
Reciprocal			893,643				832,020
Time			570,130				524,325
Brokered time			148,585				284,740
Total Deposits			4,582,414				4,622,879
Other borrowings			49,977				50,026
Subordinated debt			39,529				39,510
Subordinated debentures			39,745				39,728
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			104,020				107,134
Total Liabilities			4,815,685				4,859,277
Shareholders’ Equity
Preferred stock, no par value, 200,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding			—				—
Common stock, no par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 20,903,677 shares at March 31, 2024 and 20,835,633 shares at December 31, 2023			317,099				317,483
Retained earnings			170,100				159,108
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(71,629	)			(72,142	)
Total Shareholders’ Equity			415,570				404,449
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity		$	5,231,255			$	5,263,726

INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations

		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023				March 31, 2023
		(Unaudited)
Interest Income		(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Interest and fees on loans		$	55,043			$	54,333			$	44,294
Interest on securities
Taxable			5,251				5,646				5,884
Tax-exempt			3,391				3,434				3,083
Other investments			1,441				1,948				675
Total Interest Income			65,126				65,361				53,936
Interest Expense
Deposits			22,810				23,111				13,760
Other borrowings and subordinated debt and debentures			2,119				2,139				1,735
Total Interest Expense			24,929				25,250				15,495
Net Interest Income			40,197				40,111				38,441
Provision for credit losses			744				(617	)			2,160
Net Interest Income After Provision for Credit Losses			39,453				40,728				36,281
Non-interest Income
Interchange income			3,151				3,336				3,205
Service charges on deposit accounts			2,872				3,061				2,857
Net gains (losses) on assets
Mortgage loans			1,364				1,961				1,256
Securities available for sale			(269	)			—				(222	)
Mortgage loan servicing, net			2,725				(2,442	)			726
Other			2,718				3,181				2,729
Total Non-interest Income			12,561				9,097				10,551
Non-interest Expense
Compensation and employee benefits			20,770				19,049				19,339
Data processing			3,255				2,909				2,991
Occupancy, net			2,074				1,933				2,159
Interchange expense			1,097				1,110				1,049
Furniture, fixtures and equipment			954				974				926
FDIC deposit insurance			782				796				783
Communications			615				535				668
Loan and collection			512				456				578
Advertising			491				879				495
Legal and professional			486				585				607
Costs (recoveries) related to unfunded lending commitments			(652	)			348				(475	)
Other			1,809				2,304				1,837
Total Non-interest Expense			32,193				31,878				30,957
Income Before Income Tax			19,821				17,947				15,875
Income tax expense			3,830				4,204				2,884
Net Income		$	15,991			$	13,743			$	12,991
Net Income Per Common Share
Basic		$	0.77			$	0.66			$	0.62
Diluted		$	0.76			$	0.65			$	0.61

INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Selected Financial Data

	March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023				September 30, 2023				June 30, 2023				March 31, 2023
	(unaudited)
	(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
Three Months Ended
Net interest income	$	40,197			$	40,111			$	39,427			$	38,350			$	38,441
Provision for credit losses		744				(617	)			1,350				3,317				2,160
Non-interest income		12,561				9,097				15,611				15,417				10,551
Non-interest expense		32,193				31,878				32,036				32,248				30,957
Income before income tax		19,821				17,947				21,652				18,202				15,875
Income tax expense		3,830				4,204				4,109				3,412				2,884
Net income	$	15,991			$	13,743			$	17,543			$	14,790			$	12,991
Basic earnings per share	$	0.77			$	0.66			$	0.84			$	0.70			$	0.62
Diluted earnings per share		0.76				0.65				0.83				0.70				0.61
Cash dividend per share		0.24				0.23				0.23				0.23				0.23
Average shares outstanding		20,877,067				20,840,680				20,922,431				21,040,349				21,103,831
Average diluted shares outstanding		21,079,607				21,049,030				21,114,445				21,222,535				21,296,980
Performance Ratios
Return on average assets		1.24	%			1.04	%			1.34	%			1.18	%			1.06	%
Return on average equity		15.95				14.36				18.68				16.29				14.77
Efficiency ratio (1)		60.26				64.27				57.52				59.26				62.07
As a Percent of Average Interest-Earning Assets (1)
Interest income		5.34	%			5.29	%			5.10	%			4.89	%			4.66	%
Interest expense		2.04				2.03				1.87				1.65				1.34
Net interest income		3.30				3.26				3.23				3.24				3.32
Average Balances
Loans	$	3,810,526			$	3,764,752			$	3,694,534			$	3,567,920			$	3,494,169
Securities		999,140				1,027,240				1,071,211				1,111,670				1,146,075
Total earning assets		4,910,669				4,928,697				4,892,208				4,763,295				4,696,786
Total assets		5,201,452				5,233,666				5,192,114				5,044,746				4,988,440
Deposits		4,561,645				4,612,797				4,577,796				4,447,843				4,417,106
Interest bearing liabilities		3,627,446				3,635,771				3,554,179				3,415,621				3,304,868
Shareholders' equity		403,225				379,614				372,667				364,143				356,720

(1) Presented on a fully tax equivalent basis assuming a marginal tax rate of 21%.

INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Selected Financial Data (continued)

	March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023				September 30, 2023				June 30, 2023				March 31, 2023
	(unaudited)
	(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
End of Period
Capital
Tangible common equity ratio		7.41	%			7.15	%			6.67	%			6.75	%			6.60	%
Tangible common equity ratio excluding accumulated other comprehensive loss		8.57				8.31				8.20				8.09				7.95
Average equity to average assets		7.75				7.25				7.18				7.22				7.15
Total capital to risk-weighted assets (2)		13.85				13.71				13.58				13.66				13.80
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (2)		11.65				11.50				11.37				11.42				11.53
Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (2)		10.73				10.58				10.44				10.46				10.55
Tier 1 capital to average assets (2)		9.29				9.03				8.94				8.97				8.92
Common shareholders' equity per share of common stock	$	19.88			$	19.41			$	17.99			$	17.91			$	17.40
Tangible common equity per share of common stock		18.44				17.96				16.53				16.45				15.94
Total shares outstanding		20,903,677				20,835,633				20,850,455				20,943,694				21,138,303
Selected Balances
Loans	$	3,839,965			$	3,790,901			$	3,741,486			$	3,631,114			$	3,509,809
Securities		963,577				1,033,338				1,043,540				1,092,703				1,137,103
Total earning assets		4,949,496				4,954,696				4,884,720				4,830,185				4,860,696
Total assets		5,231,255				5,263,726				5,200,018				5,135,564				5,138,934
Deposits		4,582,414				4,622,879				4,585,612				4,487,636				4,544,749
Interest bearing liabilities		3,677,060				3,676,050				3,573,187				3,501,280				3,481,511
Shareholders' equity		415,570				404,449				374,998				375,162				367,714

(2) March 31, 2024 are Preliminary.   

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation believes non-GAAP measures are meaningful because they reflect adjustments commonly made by management, investors, regulators and analysts to evaluate the adequacy of common equity and performance trends.  Tangible common equity is used by the Company to measure the quality of capital.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2024				2023
	(Dollars in thousands)
Net Interest Margin, Fully Taxable Equivalent ("FTE")
Net interest income		$	40,197			$	38,441
Add:  taxable equivalent adjustment			180				288
Net interest income - taxable equivalent		$	40,377			$	38,729
Net interest margin (GAAP) (1)			3.28	%			3.29	%
Net interest margin (FTE) (1)			3.30	%			3.32	%

(1) Annualized. 

Tangible Common Equity Ratio

	March 31, 2024				December 31, 2023				September 30, 2023				June 30, 2023				March 31, 2023
	(Dollars in thousands)
Common shareholders' equity	$	415,570			$	404,449			$	374,998			$	375,162			$	367,714
Less:
Goodwill		28,300				28,300				28,300				28,300				28,300
Other intangibles		1,875				2,004				2,141				2,278				2,415
Tangible common equity		385,395				374,145				344,557				344,584				336,999
Addition:
Accumulated other comprehensive loss for regulatory purposes		65,831				66,344				86,507				74,712				75,013
Tangible common equity excluding other comprehensive loss adjustments	$	451,226			$	440,489			$	431,064			$	419,296			$	412,012
Total assets	$	5,231,255			$	5,263,726			$	5,200,018			$	5,135,564			$	5,138,934
Less:
Goodwill		28,300				28,300				28,300				28,300				28,300
Other intangibles		1,875				2,004				2,141				2,278				2,415
Tangible assets		5,201,080				5,233,422				5,169,577				5,104,986				5,108,219
Addition:
Net unrealized losses on available for sale securities and derivatives, net of tax		65,831				66,344				86,507				74,712				75,013
Tangible assets excluding other comprehensive loss adjustments	$	5,266,911			$	5,299,766			$	5,256,084			$	5,179,698			$	5,183,232
Common equity ratio		7.94	%			7.68	%			7.21	%			7.31	%			7.16	%
Tangible common equity ratio		7.41	%			7.15	%			6.67	%			6.75	%			6.60	%
Tangible common equity ratio excluding other comprehensive loss		8.57	%			8.31	%			8.20	%			8.09	%			7.95	%
Tangible Common Equity per Share of Common Stock:
Common shareholders' equity	$	415,570			$	404,449			$	374,998			$	375,162			$	367,714
Tangible common equity	$	385,395			$	374,145			$	344,557			$	344,584			$	336,999
Shares of common stock outstanding (in thousands)		20,904				20,836				20,850				20,944				21,138
Common shareholders' equity per share of common stock	$	19.88			$	19.41			$	17.99			$	17.91			$	17.40
Tangible common equity per share of common stock	$	18.44			$	17.96			$	16.53			$	16.45			$	15.94

The tangible common equity ratio removes the effect of goodwill and other intangible assets from capital and total assets.  Tangible common equity per share of common stock removes the effect of goodwill and other intangible assets from common shareholders’ equity per share of common stock.