Independent Bank Corporation Reports 2024 Fourth Quarter Results

Fourth Quarter Highlights

Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2024 include:

• An increase in net interest income of $1.0 million (2.4%) over the third quarter of 2024;
• A net interest margin of 3.45% (eight basis point increase from the linked quarter)
• A return on average assets and a return on average equity of 1.39% and 16.31%, respectively;
• Net growth in loans of $96.5 million (or 9.7% annualized) from September 30, 2024; and
• The payment of a 24 cent per share dividend on common stock on November 15, 2024.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) reported fourth quarter 2024 net income of $18.5 million, or $0.87 per diluted share, versus net income of $13.7 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company reported net income of $66.8 million, or $3.16 per diluted share, compared to net income of $59.1 million, or $2.79 per diluted share, in 2023.

William B. ("Brad”) Kessel, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Independent Bank Corporation, commented: "Our fourth-quarter performance marked the culmination of another remarkable year, with our organization excelling on the fundamentals. I am especially pleased to report a notable 10% annualized growth rate in our loan portfolio for the fourth quarter of 2024, driven by an impressive 24% annualized growth rate in our commercial loan portfolio. This strong performance enabled us to achieve a $1 million increase in net interest income for the linked quarter, contributing to a healthy net interest margin of 3.45%. Our credit metrics remain outstanding, with watch credits and non-performing assets near historic lows. I am incredibly proud of our team's dedication and efforts throughout 2024, which translated into exceptional full-year results. We achieved balanced growth on both sides of the balance sheet, with total loan growth of 7% and core deposit growth of 5%. For the year, we delivered a return on average assets (ROAA) of 1.27%, a return on average equity (ROAE) of 15.66%, earnings per share (EPS) growth of 13%, and 13% growth in tangible book value per share (TBVPS). Looking ahead to 2025, we remain optimistic about sustaining these growth trends. Our confidence is bolstered by a robust commercial loan pipeline, the proven track record of our core team of professionals, and our on-going strategic initiative to attract and integrate talented bankers into our organization. Additionally, I am pleased our Board of Directors approved an 8% increase in our quarterly dividend in January, 2025 marking the twelfth consecutive annual increase for our shareholders.”

Significant items impacting comparable 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 $6.5 million ($0.24 per diluted share, after taxes) and $4.5 million ($0.17 per diluted share, after taxes) for the three-month and full-year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, as compared to $(3.6) million ($(0.14) per diluted share, after taxes) and $(0.3) million ($(0.01) per diluted share, after taxes) for the three-months and full-year ended December 31, 2023, respectively.
• The provision for credit losses was an expense of $2.2 million ($0.08 per diluted share, after taxes) and expense of $4.5 million ($0.17 per diluted share, after tax) in the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, as compared to a credit of $(0.6) million ($(0.02) per diluted share, after taxes) and expense of $6.2 million ($0.23 per diluted share, after tax) in the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023, respectively.

Operating Results

The Company's net interest income totaled $42.9 million during the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of $2.7 million, or 6.8% from the year-ago period, and up $1.0 million, or 2.4%, from the third quarter of 2024. The Company's tax equivalent net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets (the "net interest margin”) was 3.45% during the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to 3.26% in the year-ago period, and 3.37% in the third quarter of 2024. The year-over-year quarterly increase in net interest income was due to an increase in the net interest margin and an increase in average earnings assets. Average interest-earning assets were $5.01 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $4.93 billion in the year ago quarter and $4.99 billion in the third quarter of 2024.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, net interest income totaled $166.2 million, an increase of $9.9 million, or 6.3% from the prior year ended December 31, 2023. The Company's net interest margin for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 3.38% compared to 3.26% in 2023. The increase in net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 2023 reflects an increase in average interest- earning assets as well as an increase in the net interest margin.

Non-interest income totaled $19.1 million and $56.4 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024, compared to $9.1 million and $50.7 million in the respective, comparable year ago periods. These changes were primarily due to variances in mortgage banking related revenues.

Net gains on mortgage loans in the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023, were approximately $1.7 million and $2.0 million, respectively. The decrease in net gains on mortgage loans was due to lower profit margins on mortgage loan sales that was partially offset by an increase in the volume of mortgage loans sold. For the full year of 2024, net gains on mortgage loans totaled $6.6 million compared to $7.4 million in 2023. The decrease in net gains on mortgage loans was due to a combination of a lower loan sale margin on mortgage loan sales and a decrease in the volume of mortgage loans sold.

Mortgage loan servicing, net, generated a gain of $7.8 million and a loss of $2.4 million in the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the full year of 2024 and 2023, mortgage loan servicing, net, generated income of $9.4 million and $4.6 million, respectively. The significant variances in mortgage loan servicing, net is primarily due to changes in the fair value of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights attributed to an increase in interest rates that resulted in a decrease in prepayment speeds and a higher earnings rate on escrow deposits. Mortgage loan servicing, net activity is summarized in the following table:

On December 5, 2024 the company executed a letter of intent to sell approximately $971 million (27.8% of total servicing portfolio) of mortgage servicing rights to a third party. This sale represents approximately $13.5 million (27.4%) of the total capitalized mortgage loan servicing right asset. This transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025. There was no financial impact in the fourth quarter of 2024 related to the execution of this letter of intent.

Non-interest expenses totaled $37.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $31.9 million in the year-ago period. For the full year of 2024, non-interest expenses totaled $135.1 million versus $127.1 million in 2023. The increase is primarily due to higher incentive based compensation attributed to higher expected payout levels, salary increases related to adjustments made at the beginning of the year as well as additions to the commercial lending team. The increase in data processing is primarily due to core data processor annual asset growth and CPI related cost increases as well as new solutions implemented during this time frame. 

The Company recorded an income tax expense of $4.3 million and $16.3 million in the fourth quarter and full year of 2024, respectively. This compares to an income tax expense of $4.2 million and $14.6 million in the fourth quarter and full year of 2023, respectively.

Asset Quality

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

The provision for credit losses was an expense of $2.2 million and a credit of $0.6 million in the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The provision for credit losses was an expense of $4.5 million and $6.2 million in the full year of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The quarterly provision for credit losses in 2024, was primarily impacted by the growth in commercial loans that was partially offset by a decrease in allocation rates due to subjective factors. The Company recorded loan net charge-offs of $0.3 million and $0.2 million in the fourth quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. At December 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses totaled $59.4 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, Liquidity and Capital

Total assets were $5.34 billion at December 31, 2024, an increase of $74.4 million from December 31, 2023. Loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $4.04 billion at December 31, 2024, compared to $3.79 billion at December 31, 2023. This increase is primarily due to growth in commercial and mortgage loans that were partially offset by a decrease in installment loans. Deposits totaled $4.65 billion at December 31, 2024, an increase of $31.2 million from December 31, 2023. This increase is primarily due to growth in savings and interest-bearing checking, reciprocal, and time deposit account balances that were partially offset by decreases in non-interest bearing and brokered time deposits.

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $119.9 million at December 31, 2024, versus $169.8 million at December 31, 2023. Securities available for sale ("AFS”) totaled $559.2 million at December 31, 2024, versus $679.4 million at December 31, 2023.

Total shareholders' equity was $454.7 million at December 31, 2024, or 8.52% of total assets compared to $404.4 million or 7.68% at December 31, 2023. Tangible common equity totaled $424.9 million at December 31, 2024, or $20.33 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 and a decline in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to unrealized losses on securities available for sale.

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

At December 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 $1.08 billion and $501.8 million, respectively. We also had approximately $517.2 million in fair value of unpledged securities AFS and HTM at December 31, 2024 which could be pledged for an estimated additional borrowing capacity at the FHLB and FRB of approximately $483.8 million.

Share Repurchase Plan

On December 17, 2024, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the 2025 share repurchase plan. Under the terms of the 2025 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, 2025. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock during 2024.

Earnings Conference Call

Brad Kessel, President and CEO, Gavin A. 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, January 23, 2025.

To participate in the live conference call, please dial 1-833-470-1428 (Access Code # 213949). 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/519785754.

A playback of the call can be accessed by dialing 1-866-813-9403 (Access Code # 178534). The replay will be available through January 30, 2025.

About Independent Bank Corporation

Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ: IBCP) is a Michigan-based bank holding company with total assets of $5.3 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, 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.