SB Financial Group Announces Fourth Quarter 2024 Results

• Net income decreased slightly to $11.5 million, a 5.2 percent decline from the prior year's $12.1 million, and diluted EPS was $1.72, down 1.9 percent from $1.75. Adjusted EPS was up 4.2 percent compared to the prior year.
• Deposits increased by $82.4 million, or 7.7 percent to $1.15 billion.
• Total interest income of $64.3 million increased by $6.2 million, or 10.7 percent compared to the $58.2 million reported for the previous twelve months, while net interest income improved slightly to $39.9 million, or 1.7 percent.

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"Our fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results underscore our ability to navigate challenges while delivering growth in key areas,” said Mark A. Klein, Chairman, President, and CEO. "Net income for the quarter was $3.6 million, a 54.4 percent increase from the linked quarter. Diluted EPS for the quarter was $0.55, with full-year diluted EPS reaching $1.72.

"In addition to our financial results, we are pleased that we were able to close on the Marblehead acquisition earlier this month. Their presence will add substantial liquidity via their low-cost deposit base and will expand our market presence in Northern Ohio.”

Interest income for the quarter grew by 11.4 percent to $16.8 million, driven by strong loan performance. Loans increased by $46.5 million, compared to the prior year, and by $16.8 million from the linked quarter. Deposits also rose by $82.4 million, or 7.7 percent, to $1.15 billion, a testament to the trust our clients place in us. Tangible book value per share climbed by 6.8 percent to $16.00, underscoring our commitment to delivering shareholder value.

We achieved $64.3 million in total interest income for the year, a 10.7 percent increase over 2023, which partially offset a slight decline in net income to $11.5 million. These results highlight our disciplined approach to growth, operational efficiency, and long-term value creation for our stakeholders. As we move into 2025, we remain focused on leveraging our momentum and strengthening our financial position.”

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidated Revenue

In the fourth quarter of 2024, total operating revenue increased to $15.5 million, a 2.2 percent rise from $15.1 million in the prior year and an 8.0 percent increase from the linked quarter, driven by growth in both net interest income and noninterest income. Net interest income reached $10.9 million, a strong 13.7 percent year-over-year increase, reflecting higher interest income on loans, which rose by $1.5 million to $15.0 million. However, rising deposit costs contributed to a 7.4 percent increase in total interest expense, partially offsetting the gains in interest income. Despite this, the net interest margin expanded by 24 basis points year-over-year to 3.35 percent, reflecting the continued strength of our interest-earning assets and disciplined funding cost management.

Noninterest income for the quarter declined by 17.6 percent year-over-year to $4.6 million due to the Visa B share sale recorded in the prior year quarter. However, it improved by 10.5 percent compared to the linked quarter, highlighting recovery in key areas. Gains on the sale of mortgage loans and OMSR increased by $448,000 year over year to $1.2 million, while wealth management fees and title insurance revenue rose by $78,000 and $100,000, respectively. Moving forward, we remain focused on maintaining a balanced approach to driving revenue growth and managing costs to deliver consistent shareholder value.

Mortgage Loan Business

"Our mortgage banking operations delivered another quarter of strong results, reflecting our strategic focus on origination growth, portfolio expansion, and servicing efficiency. Mortgage originations surged to $72.5 million, an impressive year-over-year increase of $33.0 million, or 83.3 percent,” continued Mr. Klein. "The Indianapolis team contributed 43 percent of our volume this quarter and our newest market, Cincinnati, had volume of $2.3 million in the quarter. Correspondingly, mortgage sales rose to $62.3 million, marking an 86.7 percent increase compared to the same period, last year.”

The mortgage servicing portfolio expanded to $1.43 billion, achieving a year-over-year increase of $60.7 million, or 4.4 percent, further strengthening our recurring revenue streams, and highlighting the effectiveness of our servicing retention strategies.

Net mortgage banking revenue for the quarter reached $2.0 million, up $703,000 from the prior year quarter, and for the year was $6.7 million up 18.1 percent compared to 2023. Gains on the sale of mortgages remained a key revenue driver, increasing by $448,000 year-over-year to $1.2 million. Loan servicing fees added $886,000 to revenue, reflecting an increase of $31,000 from the previous year quarter. Notably, the OMSR net valuation adjustment for full year 2024 was a positive $42,000 compared to a negative $51,000 for the full year of 2023.

Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

"Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 totaled $4.6 million, with linked quarter noninterest income increasing by $434,000 or 10.5 percent, primarily due to increased revenue in net mortgage loan servicing fees and higher wealth management fees. Compared to the prior year quarter, wealth management fees grew modestly by $78,000 year over year, and title insurance revenue added $100,000, reflecting our ability to deliver consistent performance across core revenue categories,” Mr. Klein noted.