West Bancorporation, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2023 Financial Results and Declares Quarterly Dividend

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, April 27, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Bancorporation, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTBA; the “Company”), parent company of West Bank, today reported first quarter 2023 net income of $7.8 million, or $0.47 per diluted common share, compared to fourth quarter 2022 net income of $8.9 million, or $0.53 per diluted common share, and first quarter 2022 net income of $13.2 million, or $0.78 per diluted common share. On April 26, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.25 per common share. The dividend is payable on May 24, 2023, to stockholders of record on May 10, 2023.

David Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, “The unprecedented size and pace of the Federal Reserve short-term interest rate increases in 2022 and early 2023 and inverted yield curve have changed the dynamics of our commercial based customers’ deposit pricing. Our deposit and funding mix has changed as depositors react to significant short-term rate competition and utilize accumulated cash for business operations. The resulting increase in our cost of funds has outpaced the repricing benefits in loans and investments, leading to a decline in our net interest income and net interest margin.”

David Nelson added, “Our credit quality continues to be pristine and for the seventh consecutive quarter end, we had no loans greater than 30 days past due. We remain diligent in monitoring and managing our credit risk as we anticipate an economic downturn ahead along with an uncertain and volatile interest rate environment. Our capital position is strong and we remain focused on delivering high quality services and products through our successful relationship based business model.”

First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

		Quarter Ended March 31, 2023
	Net Income (in thousands)	$	7,844
	Return on Average Equity		14.77	%
	Return on Average Assets		0.88	%
	Efficiency ratio (a non-GAAP measure)		55.34	%
	Nonperforming assets to total assets		0.01	%

First Quarter 2023 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2022 Overview

• Loans increased $13.3 million in the first quarter of 2023, or 2.0 percent annualized.
  
  
• No provision for credit losses was recorded in either the first quarter of 2023 or the fourth quarter of 2022.
  
  
• The allowance for credit losses to total loans was 1.01 percent at March 31, 2023, compared to 0.93 percent at December 31, 2022. The increase in the allowance ratio was due to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, which resulted in a $2.5 million increase to the allowance for credit losses. This adoption also resulted in establishing an allowance for unfunded commitments of $2.3 million which is included in other liabilities, a $3.6 million decrease to retained earnings and $1.2 million increase in deferred tax assets.
  
  
• There were no loans greater than 30 days past due at March 31, 2023, which was the seventh consecutive quarter in which no loans were greater than 30 days past due. Nonaccrual loans at March 31, 2023, consisted of one loan with a balance of $316 thousand.
  
  
• Deposits decreased $82.0 million in the first quarter of 2023. Included in this decrease was a decrease in brokered deposits of $38.5 million. Brokered deposits totaled $234.2 million at March 31, 2023, compared to $272.7 million at December 31, 2022.
  
  
• The efficiency ratio (a non-GAAP measure) was 55.34 percent for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 50.42 percent for the fourth quarter of 2022. The increase in the efficiency ratio is primarily the result of the decline in tax equivalent net interest income and an increase in compensation and employee benefits.
  
  
• Net interest margin, on a fully tax-equivalent basis (a non-GAAP measure), was 2.23 percent for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 2.49 percent for the fourth quarter of 2022. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2023 was $18.7 million, compared to $20.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. The rising cost of deposits and borrowed funds and the change in mix of liabilities has increased interest expense faster than the increase in interest income from loan repricing and loan originations.
  
  
• The tangible common equity ratio was 5.99 percent at March 31, 2023, an increase of 15 basis points compared to 5.84 percent at December 31, 2022, due to an increase in the market value of the securities portfolio, which decreased the accumulated other comprehensive loss.
  
  

First Quarter 2023 Compared to First Quarter 2022 Overview

• Loans increased $270.8 million at March 31, 2023, or 10.9 percent, compared to March 31, 2022.
  
  
• Deposits decreased $292.9 million at March 31, 2023, compared to March 31, 2022. Included in deposits were brokered deposits totaling $234.2 million at March 31, 2023, compared to $116.5 million at March 31, 2022. The decline in deposits was primarily attributable to customers using their own liquidity to fund business transactions, instead of incurring debt, and customers seeking higher yielding investment options for excess deposits accumulated over the past couple of years. During the second quarter of 2022, a large corporate customer completed a significant business transaction that was funded by the customer’s deposits held at West Bank, accounting for a significant portion of the decrease in deposits.
  
  
• Borrowed funds increased to $580.2 million at March 31, 2023, compared to $197.0 million at March 31, 2022. The increase included $58.9 million in subordinated notes that were issued in June 2022, $95.0 million in FHLB Advances associated with long-term interest rate swaps and $229.3 million in federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings.
  
  
• The efficiency ratio (a non-GAAP measure) was 55.34 percent for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 40.14 percent for the first quarter of 2022. Tax-equivalent net interest income decreased in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2022 due to the increased cost of deposits and borrowed funds. Additionally, salaries and employee benefits increased due to wage increases that have been higher than recent historical averages in response to market conditions and competition in retaining and recruiting talent and increases in full-time equivalent employees with growth in our commercial banking team and information technology department. Occupancy and equipment expense increased primarily due to the increase in depreciation expense related to the new building in St. Cloud, Minnesota which opened in March 2022 and scheduled increases in rent expense on existing leases.
  
  
• Net interest margin, on a fully tax-equivalent basis (a non-GAAP measure), was 2.23 percent for the first quarter of 2023, compared to 2.85 percent for the first quarter of 2022. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2023 was $18.7 million, compared to $23.8 million for the first quarter of 2022. In 2022 and 2023, the rising cost of deposits and borrowed funds and the change in mix of liabilities has increased interest expense faster than the increase in interest income from loan repricing and loan originations.
  

The Company filed its report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission today. Please refer to that document for a more in-depth discussion of the Company’s financial results. The Form 10-Q is available on the Investor Relations section of West Bank’s website at www.westbankstrong.com.

The Company will discuss its results in a conference call scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, April 27, 2023. The telephone number for the conference call is 844-200-6205. The access code for the conference call is 950386. A recording of the call will be available until May 11, 2023, by dialing 845-709-8569. The replay access code is 943070.

About West Bancorporation, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTBA)

West Bancorporation, Inc. is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. Serving customers since 1893, West Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of West Bancorporation, Inc., is a community bank that focuses on lending, deposit services, and trust services for small- to medium-sized businesses and consumers. West Bank has six offices in the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area, one office in Coralville, Iowa, and four offices in Minnesota in the cities of Rochester, Owatonna, Mankato and St. Cloud.

Certain statements in this report, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to the Company’s business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward-looking statements” within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this report. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “future,” “confident,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “strategy,” “plan,” “opportunity,” “will be,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar references, or references to estimates, predictions or future events. Such forward-looking statements are based upon certain underlying assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Because of the possibility that the underlying assumptions are incorrect or do not materialize as expected in the future, actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements.  Risks and uncertainties that may affect future results include: interest rate risk, including the effects of recent rate increases by the Federal Reserve; fluctuations in the values of the securities held in our investment portfolio, including as a result of rising interest rates, which has resulted in unrealized losses in our portfolio; competitive pressures, including from non-bank competitors such as “fintech” companies and digital asset service providers; pricing pressures on loans and deposits; our ability to successfully manage liquidity risk; changes in credit and other risks posed by the Company’s loan portfolio, including declines in commercial or residential real estate values or changes in the allowance for loan losses dictated by new market conditions, accounting standards (including as a result of the implementation of the current expected credit loss (CECL) accounting standard) or regulatory requirements; the concentration of large deposits from certain clients who have balances above current FDIC insurance limits and may withdraw deposits to diversify their exposure; changes in local, national and international economic conditions, including rising rates of inflation; the effects of recent developments and events in the financial services industry, including the large-scale deposit withdrawals over a short period of time at Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank that resulted in failure of those institutions; changes in legal and regulatory requirements, limitations and costs including in response to the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank; changes in customers’ acceptance of the Company’s products and services; cyber-attacks; unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; the monetary, trade and other regulatory policies of the U.S. government; acts of war or terrorism, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, widespread disease or pandemics, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, or other adverse external events; risks related to climate change and the negative impact it may have on our customers and their businesses; developments and uncertainty related to the future use and availability of some reference rates, such as the expected discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate and the development of other alternative reference rates; changes to U.S. tax laws, regulations and guidance; talent and labor shortages; the new 1 percent excise tax on stock buybacks by publicly traded companies; and any other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update such forward-looking statements to reflect current or future events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Financial Information (unaudited)
(in thousands)
		As of
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS		March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022				September 30, 2022				June 30, 2022				March 31, 2022
Assets
Cash and due from banks		$	21,579			$	24,896			$	58,342			$	26,174			$	21,896
Interest-bearing deposits			901				1,643				1,049				766				122,359
Securities available for sale, at fair value			665,358				664,115				671,752				731,970				797,912
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost			22,226				19,336				18,350				15,532				10,269
Loans			2,756,185				2,742,836				2,614,145				2,573,129				2,485,366
Allowance for credit losses			(27,941	)			(25,473	)			(25,418	)			(25,434	)			(27,623	)
Loans, net			2,728,244				2,717,363				2,588,727				2,547,695				2,457,743
Premises and equipment, net			59,565				53,124				44,592				41,807				40,898
Bank-owned life insurance			44,830				44,573				44,318				44,072				43,836
Other assets			82,240				88,168				90,387				66,775				52,156
Total assets		$	3,624,943			$	3,613,218			$	3,517,517			$	3,474,791			$	3,547,069
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Deposits		$	2,798,393			$	2,880,408			$	2,822,847			$	2,842,451			$	3,091,252
Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings			229,290				200,000				204,500				133,000				—
Other borrowings			350,921				285,855				255,789				255,751				196,954
Other liabilities			29,347				35,843				35,617				27,400				22,383
Stockholders’ equity			216,992				211,112				198,764				216,189				236,480
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	3,624,943			$	3,613,218			$	3,517,517			$	3,474,791			$	3,547,069
		For the Quarter Ended
AVERAGE BALANCES		March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022				September 30, 2022				June 30, 2022				March 31, 2022
Assets		$	3,617,458			$	3,511,717			$	3,475,894			$	3,503,686			$	3,544,564
Loans			2,745,381				2,649,671				2,579,862				2,537,152				2,449,521
Deposits			2,846,926				2,901,928				2,864,648				3,002,535				3,067,019
Stockholders’ equity			215,391				199,947				219,065				222,731				255,130

WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Financial Information (unaudited)
(in thousands)
		As of
ANALYSIS OF LOAN PORTFOLIO		March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022				September 30, 2022				June 30, 2022				March 31, 2022
Loan mix:
Commercial		$	520,894			$	519,196			$	526,336			$	475,704			$	466,874
Real estate:
Construction, land and land development			336,739				363,015				341,549				390,137				388,424
1-4 family residential first mortgages			75,223				75,211				69,991				69,829				65,978
Home equity			9,726				10,322				10,271				8,564				9,213
Commercial			1,810,158				1,771,940				1,661,907				1,627,150				1,555,001
Consumer and other			7,381				7,291				7,884				5,912				4,068
			2,760,121				2,746,975				2,617,938				2,577,296				2,489,558
Net unamortized fees and costs			(3,936	)			(4,139	)			(3,793	)			(4,167	)			(4,192	)
Total loans		$	2,756,185			$	2,742,836			$	2,614,145			$	2,573,129			$	2,485,366
Less allowance for credit losses			(27,941	)			(25,473	)			(25,418	)			(25,434	)			(27,623	)
Net loans		$	2,728,244			$	2,717,363			$	2,588,727			$	2,547,695			$	2,457,743
ANALYSIS OF DEPOSITS
Deposit mix:
Noninterest-bearing demand		$	605,666			$	693,563			$	712,722			$	690,335			$	710,697
Interest-bearing demand			486,656				536,226				469,257				472,919				554,235
Savings and money market			1,295,280				1,237,954				1,252,694				1,360,020				1,632,690
Time			410,791				412,665				388,174				319,177				193,630
Total deposits		$	2,798,393			$	2,880,408			$	2,822,847			$	2,842,451			$	3,091,252
ANALYSIS OF BORROWINGS
Borrowings mix:
Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings		$	229,290			$	200,000			$	204,500			$	133,000			$	—
Subordinated notes, net			79,435				79,369				79,303				79,265				20,468
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			220,000				155,000				125,000				125,000				125,000
Long-term debt			51,486				51,486				51,486				51,486				51,486
Total borrowings		$	580,211			$	485,855			$	460,289			$	388,751			$	196,954
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred stock		$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—			$	—
Common stock			3,000				3,000				3,000				3,000				3,000
Additional paid-in capital			31,797				32,021				31,152				30,283				29,421
Retained earnings			267,620				267,562				262,776				255,334				246,827
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(85,425	)			(91,471	)			(98,164	)			(72,428	)			(42,768	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity		$	216,992			$	211,112			$	198,764			$	216,189			$	236,480

WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Financial Information (unaudited)
(in thousands)
		For the Quarter Ended
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME		March 31, 2023			December 31, 2022			September 30, 2022			June 30, 2022				March 31, 2022
Interest income:
Loans, including fees		$	32,948		$	30,859		$	28,102		$	24,848			$	23,286
Securities:
Taxable			3,316			3,398			3,147			3,090				2,889
Tax-exempt			885			887			890			892				858
Interest-bearing deposits			30			24			30			67				82
Total interest income			37,179			35,168			32,169			28,897				27,115
Interest expense:
Deposits			13,339			11,043			6,289			3,146				2,151
Federal funds purchased and other short-term borrowings			2,079			952			655			157				—
Subordinated notes			1,106			1,119			1,106			394				248
Federal Home Loan Bank advances			1,262			755			649			635				630
Long-term debt			698			630			466			326				258
Total interest expense			18,484			14,499			9,165			4,658				3,287
Net interest income			18,695			20,669			23,004			24,239				23,828
Credit loss expense (benefit)			—			—			—			(1,750	)			(750	)
Net interest income after credit loss expense (benefit)			18,695			20,669			23,004			25,989				24,578
Noninterest income:
Service charges on deposit accounts			462			476			553			585				580
Debit card usage fees			486			492			498			507				472
Trust services			706			678			780			622				629
Increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance			257			255			246			236				227
Gain from bank-owned life insurance			691			—			—			—				—
Loan swap fees			—			—			835			—				—
Other income			355			364			364			328				481
Total noninterest income			2,957			2,265			3,276			2,278				2,389
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits			6,867			6,552			6,578			6,410				6,298
Occupancy and equipment			1,327			1,270			1,315			1,242				1,086
Data processing			635			673			644			656				624
Technology and software			513			518			651			492				476
FDIC insurance			416			243			127			289				337
Professional fees			250			205			250			202				217
Director fees			205			215			209			222				168
Other expenses			1,858			1,989			1,684			1,753				1,456
Total noninterest expense			12,071			11,665			11,458			11,266				10,662
Income before income taxes			9,581			11,269			14,822			17,001				16,305
Income taxes			1,737			2,323			3,220			4,334				3,121
Net income		$	7,844		$	8,946		$	11,602		$	12,667			$	13,184
Basic earnings per common share		$	0.47		$	0.54		$	0.70		$	0.76			$	0.80
Diluted earnings per common share		$	0.47		$	0.53		$	0.69		$	0.75			$	0.78

WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Financial Information (unaudited)
		As of and for the Quarter Ended
COMMON SHARE DATA		March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022				September 30, 2022				June 30, 2022				March 31, 2022
Earnings per common share (basic)		$	0.47			$	0.54			$	0.70			$	0.76			$	0.80
Earnings per common share (diluted)			0.47				0.53				0.69				0.75				0.78
Dividends per common share			0.25				0.25				0.25				0.25				0.25
Book value per common share(1)			12.98				12.69				11.94				12.99				14.22
Closing stock price			18.27				25.55				20.81				24.34				27.21
Market price/book value(2)			140.76	%			201.34	%			174.29	%			187.37	%			191.35	%
Price earnings ratio(3)			9.56				11.93				7.49				7.98				8.39
Annualized dividend yield(4)			5.47	%			3.91	%			4.81	%			4.11	%			3.68	%
REGULATORY CAPITAL RATIOS
Consolidated:
Total risk-based capital ratio			12.17	%			12.08	%			12.34	%			12.53	%			10.72	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio			9.51				9.55				9.72				9.81				9.81
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio			8.60				8.81				8.85				8.59				8.39
Common equity tier 1 ratio			8.92				8.96				9.11				9.17				9.16
West Bank:
Total risk-based capital ratio			13.16	%			13.08	%			13.38	%			13.62	%			11.88	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio			12.26				12.33				12.60				12.81				10.98
Tier 1 leverage capital ratio			11.10				11.37				11.47				11.22				9.39
Common equity tier 1 ratio			12.26				12.33				12.60				12.81				10.98
KEY PERFORMANCE RATIOS AND OTHER METRICS
Return on average assets(5)			0.88	%			1.01	%			1.32	%			1.45	%			1.51	%
Return on average equity(6)			14.77				17.75				21.01				22.81				20.96
Net interest margin(7)(13)			2.23				2.49				2.78				2.93				2.85
Yield on interest-earning assets(8)(13)			4.41				4.21				3.87				3.49				3.24
Cost of interest-bearing liabilities			2.76				2.24				1.45				0.73				0.52
Efficiency ratio(9)(13)			55.34				50.42				43.16				41.96				40.14
Non-performing assets to total assets(10)			0.01				0.01				0.01				0.01				0.25
ACL ratio(11)			1.01				0.93				0.97				0.99				1.11
Loans/total assets			76.03				75.91				74.32				74.05				70.07
Loans/total deposits			98.49				95.22				92.61				90.53				80.40
Tangible common equity ratio(12)			5.99				5.84				5.65				6.22				6.67

(1) Includes accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
(2) Closing stock price divided by book value per common share.
(3) Closing stock price divided by annualized earnings per common share (basic).
(4) Annualized dividend divided by period end closing stock price.
(5) Annualized net income divided by average assets.
(6) Annualized net income divided by average stockholders’ equity.
(7) Annualized tax-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
(8) Annualized tax-equivalent interest income on interest-earning assets divided by average interest-earning assets.
(9) Noninterest expense (excluding other real estate owned expense and write-down of premises) divided by noninterest income (excluding net securities gains/losses and gains/losses on disposition of premises and equipment) plus tax-equivalent net interest income.
(10) Total nonperforming assets divided by total assets.
(11) Allowance for credit losses divided by total loans.        
(12) Common equity less intangible assets (none held) divided by tangible assets.
(13) A non-GAAP measure.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the Company’s presentation of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis and the presentation of the efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis, excluding certain income and expenses. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to both management and investors to analyze and evaluate the Company’s financial performance. These measures are considered standard measures of comparison within the banking industry. Additionally, management believes providing measures on a FTE basis enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently. These non-GAAP disclosures should not be considered an alternative to the Company’s GAAP results. The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of net interest income and net interest margin on a fully taxable equivalent basis and efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis.

(in thousands)		As of and for the Quarter Ended
		March 31, 2023				December 31, 2022				September 30, 2022				June 30, 2022				March 31, 2022
Reconciliation of net interest income and net interest margin on a FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income (GAAP)		$	18,695			$	20,669			$	23,004			$	24,239			$	23,828
Tax-equivalent adjustment (1)			161				197				270				326				329
Net interest income on a FTE basis (non-GAAP)			18,856				20,866				23,274				24,565				24,157
Average interest-earning assets			3,435,988				3,328,941				3,322,522				3,362,313				3,432,114
Net interest margin on a FTE basis (non-GAAP)			2.23	%			2.49	%			2.78	%			2.93	%			2.85	%
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis to GAAP:
Net interest income on a FTE basis (non-GAAP)		$	18,856			$	20,866			$	23,274			$	24,565			$	24,157
Noninterest income			2,957				2,265				3,276				2,278				2,389
Adjustment for losses on disposal of premises and equipment, net			—				2				—				9				18
Adjusted income			21,813				23,133				26,550				26,852				26,564
Noninterest expense			12,071				11,665				11,458				11,266				10,662
Efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis (non-GAAP) (2)			55.34	%			50.42	%			43.16	%			41.96	%			40.14	%

(1) Computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent, adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial results, as it enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources.
(2) The efficiency ratio expresses noninterest expense as a percent of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding specific noninterest income and expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the Company's financial performance. It is a standard measure of comparison within the banking industry. A lower ratio is more desirable.

For more information contact:
Jane Funk, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (515) 222-5766