News Details

SAN JOSE, Calif., July 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Heritage Commerce Corp (Nasdaq: HTBK), the holding company (the “Company”) for Heritage Bank of Commerce (the “Bank”), today announced second quarter 2022 net income of $14.8 million, or $0.24 per average diluted common share, compared to $8.8 million, or $0.15 per average diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2021, and $12.9 million, or $0.21 per average diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2022. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, net income was $27.7 million, or $0.45 per average diluted common share, compared to $20.0 million, or $0.33 per average diluted common share, for the six months ended June 30, 2021. All results are unaudited.

“Our second quarter of 2022 results were stellar, generating record earnings for the quarter and for the first half of 2022,” said Walter Kaczmarek, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Year-over-year core deposit growth was solid, supporting strong organic loan growth. Loans, excluding Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and residential mortgages, increased 12% from a year earlier. Additionally, our strong liquidity provides us with the opportunity for investment strategies that positively impact our net interest income.”

“We continue to deliver solid profitability metrics, including an annualized return on average tangible equity of 14.06% and an efficiency ratio of 52.73% for the second quarter of 2022,” said Mr. Kaczmarek. “Our excellent credit quality further improved during the second quarter of 2022 with nonperforming assets declining 56% from a year ago and down 29% from the linked quarter. Our allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans increased to 1.48%, or $45.5 million, at June 30, 2022, from 1.41%, or $42.8 million, at March 31, 2022, despite having a negative provision for credit losses on loans, due to net loan recoveries on previously charged off loans of $2.9 million during the second quarter of 2022. The net interest margin improved to 3.38% for the second quarter 2022, compared to 3.05% for the first quarter of 2022.”

“Our franchise is growing as we continue to look for opportunities to expand in the San Francisco Bay area. We recently opened a new banking office in Oakland, at 1111 Broadway, Suite 1650, offering a full range of commercial banking services to small and medium-sized businesses and their owners, managers and employees. We will continue to focus on deepening our existing customer relationships while cultivating new customer relationships,” said Mr. Kaczmarek. “Going forward, our balance sheet remains well positioned to benefit from rising interest rates. Together with our strong liquidity and capital levels, earnings capacity and dedicated employees, we are well positioned for further success as we head into the second half of the year.”

Second Quarter Ended June 30, 2022
Operating Results, Balance Sheet Review, Capital Management, and Credit Quality

(as of, or for the periods ended June 30, 2022, compared to June 30, 2021, and March 31, 2022, except as noted):

Operating Results:

• Diluted earnings per share were $0.24 for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $0.15 for the second quarter of 2021, and $0.21 for the first quarter of 2022. Diluted earnings per share were $0.45 for the first six months of 2022, compared to $0.33 for the first six months of 2021.
  
  
• The following table indicates the ratios for the return on average tangible assets and the return on average tangible equity for the periods indicated:
  

• Net interest income, before provision for credit losses on loans, increased 20% to $41.9 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $34.9 million for the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to higher average balances of loans and investment securities, higher average yields on investment securities and overnight funds, an increase in the accretion of the loan purchase discount into interest income from acquired loans, and a lower cost of funds, partially offset by lower interest and fees on PPP loans. Net interest income increased 10% for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $38.2 million for the first quarter of 2022, primarily due to higher average balances of loans and investment securities, higher average yields on loans, investment securities and overnight funds, an increase in the accretion of the loan purchase discount into interest income from acquired loans, partially offset by lower interest and fees on PPP loans. Net interest income increased 15% to $80.1 million for the first six months of 2022, compared to $69.8 million for the first six months of 2021, primarily due to higher average balances of loans and investment securities, higher average yields on investment securities and overnight funds, and a lower cost of funds, partially offset by lower interest and fees on PPP loans.
  
  
  • The fully tax equivalent (“FTE”) net interest margin increased 33 basis points to 3.38% for the second quarter of 2022 from 3.05% for the first quarter of 2022, primarily due to a shift in the mix of earning assets as the Company invested its excess liquidity into higher yielding loans and investment securities, higher average yield on overnight funds, and an increase in the accretion of the loan purchase discount into interest income from acquired loans, partially offset by lower interest and fees on PPP loans.
    
    
  • The FTE net interest margin increased 38 basis points to 3.38% for the second quarter of 2022, from 3.00% for the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to a shift in the mix of earning assets into higher yielding loans and investment securities, higher average yield on overnight funds, and an increase in the accretion of the loan purchase discount into interest income from acquired loans, and a decline in the cost of funds, partially offset by lower interest and fees on PPP loans.
    
    
  • For the first six months of 2022, the FTE net interest margin increased 11 basis points to 3.21%, compared to 3.10% for the first six months of 2021, primarily due to higher average balances of loans and investment securities, higher average yields on investment securities and overnight funds, and a lower cost of funds, partially offset by lower interest and fees on PPP loans.
    
    
• The following table, as of June 30, 2022, sets forth the estimated changes in the Company’s annual net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel shift in interest rates from the base rate:
  

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(1) Computations of prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions including relative levels of market interest rates, loan prepayments and deposit decay, and should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results. Actual rates paid on deposits may differ from the hypothetical interest rates modeled due to competitive or market factors, which could reduce any actual impact on net interest income.
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• The following tables present the average balance of loans outstanding, interest income, and the average yield for the periods indicated:
  
  
  • The average yield on the total loan portfolio increased to 4.80% for the second quarter of 2022, compared to 4.70% for the first quarter of 2022, primarily due to increases in the prime rate, an increase in the accretion of the loan purchase discount into interest income from acquired loans, partially offset by lower fees on PPP loans, and higher average balances of lower yielding purchased residential mortgage loans.

• The average yield on the total loan portfolio remained flat at 4.80% for both the second quarter of 2022 and the second quarter of 2021, as an increase in the accretion of the loan purchase discount into interest income from acquired loans and higher yields on the asset-based lending portfolio, was offset by lower interest and fees on PPP loans, higher average balances of lower yielding purchased residential mortgages, declines in the average yields of the core bank loans and Bay View Funding factored receivables.
  

• The average cost of total deposits was 0.10% for both the second and first quarters of 2022, compared to 0.11% for the second quarter of 2021. The average cost of total deposits was 0.10% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to 0.12% for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

• During the second quarter of 2022, there was a negative provision for credit losses on loans of $181,000, compared to a $493,000 negative provision for credit losses on loans for the second quarter of 2021, and a $567,000 negative provision for credit losses on loans for the first quarter of 2022. There was a negative provision for credit losses on loans of $748,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to a $2.0 million negative provision for credit losses on loans for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
  
• Total noninterest income remained relatively flat at $2.1 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $2.2 million for the second quarter of 2021, mostly due to a lower gain on proceeds from company-owned life insurance, partially offset by higher service charges and fees on deposit accounts during the second quarter of 2022. Total noninterest income decreased from $2.5 million for the first quarter of 2022, primarily due to a $637,000 gain on warrants and a higher gain on sale of SBA loans during the first quarter of 2022, partially offset by higher service charges and fees on deposit accounts during the second quarter of 2022.
  
  
  • For the six months ended June 30, 2022, total noninterest income remained relatively flat at $4.6 million, compared to $4.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, primarily due to a $637,000 gain on warrants and higher service charges and fees on deposit accounts during the first six months of 2022, partially offset by a lower gain on proceeds from company-owned life insurance and a lower gain on sale of SBA loans during the first six months of 2022.
    

• Total noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2022 decreased to $23.2 million, compared to $25.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, primarily due to a $4.0 million reserve for a legal settlement during the second quarter of 2021, partially offset by higher salaries and employee benefits, insurance expense and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assessments during the second quarter of 2022. Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2022 remained relatively flat compared to $23.3 million for the first quarter of 2022.
  
  
  • Noninterest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2022 decreased to $46.4 million, compared to $49.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, primarily due to a reserve for a legal settlement during the first six months of 2021, partially offset by higher salaries and employee benefits, insurance expense and FDIC assessments during the first six months of 2022.
    
    
  • Full time equivalent employees was 332 at June 30, 2022, and 330 at June 30, 2021, and 325 at March 31, 2022.
    
    
• The efficiency ratio was 52.73% for the second quarter of 2022, compared to 69.58% for the second quarter of 2021, and 57.16% for the first quarter of 2022. The efficiency ratio for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was 54.86%, compared to 65.97% for the six months ended June 30, 2021. Excluding the $4.0 million reserve for a legal settlement, the efficiency ratio was 58.78% for the second quarter of 2021, and 60.59% for the first six months of 2021.
  

• Income tax expense was $6.1 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to $3.0 million for the second quarter of 2021, and $5.1 million for the first quarter of 2022. The effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2022 was 29.3%, compared to 25.1% for the second quarter of 2021, and 28.5% for the first quarter of 2021. Income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $11.3 million, compared to $7.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was 28.9%, compared to 26.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2021.
  
  
  • The difference in the effective tax rate for the periods reported compared to the combined Federal and state statutory tax rate of 29.6% was primarily the result of the Company’s investment in life insurance policies whose earnings are not subject to taxes, tax credits related to investments in low-income housing limited partnerships (net of low-income housing investment losses), and tax-exempt interest income earned on municipal bonds.
    

Balance Sheet Review, Capital Management and Credit Quality:

• Total assets increased 6% to $5.357 billion at June 30, 2022, compared to $5.073 billion at June 30, 2021, and decreased (1%) from $5.427 billion at March 31, 2022.
  

• Securities available-for-sale, at fair value, totaled $332.1 million at June 30, 2022, compared to $146.0 million at June 30, 2021, and $111.2 million at March 31, 2022. At June 30, 2022, the Company’s securities available-for-sale portfolio was comprised of $250.1 million of U.S. Treasury securities and $82.0 million of agency mortgage-backed securities (all issued by U.S. Government sponsored entities).
  
  
  • The pre-tax unrealized loss on U.S. Treasury securities available-for-sale at June 30, 2022 was ($1.2) million, compared to a pre-tax unrealized gain of $94,000 at June 30, 2021, and a pre-tax unrealized loss of ($94,000) at March 31, 2022. The pre-tax unrealized loss on mortgage-backed securities available-for-sale at June 30, 2022 was ($2.9) million, compared to a pre-tax unrealized gain of $4.2 million at June 30, 2021, and a pre-tax unrealized loss of ($1.4) million at March 31, 2022. The pre-tax unrealized loss on total securities available-for-sale at June 30, 2022 was ($4.1) million, compared to a pre-tax unrealized gain of $4.3 million at June 30, 2021, and a pre-tax unrealized loss of ($1.5) million at March 31, 2022. All other factors remaining the same, when market interest rates are increasing, the Company will experience a higher unrealized loss on the securities portfolio.
  • During the second quarter of 2022, the Company purchased $229.3 million of U.S. Treasury securities available-for-sale, with a book yield of 2.80% and an average life of 2.58 years. During the first six months of 2022, the Company purchased $251.0 million of U.S. Treasury securities available-for-sale, with a book yield of 2.75% and an average life of 2.57 years.
• At June 30, 2022, securities held-to-maturity, at amortized cost, totaled $723.7 million, compared to $421.3 million at June 30, 2021, and $736.8 million at March 31, 2022. At June 30, 2022, the Company’s securities held-to-maturity portfolio was comprised of $683.7 million of agency mortgage-backed securities, and $40.0 million of tax-exempt municipal bonds.
  
  
  • The pre-tax unrealized loss on mortgage-backed securities held-to-maturity at June 30, 2022 was ($72.5) million, compared to a pre-tax unrealized gain of $4.2 million at June 30, 2021, and a pre-tax unrealized loss of ($46.2) million at March 31, 2022. The pre-tax unrealized loss on municipal bonds held-to-maturity at June 30, 2022 was ($436,000), compared to a pre-tax unrealized gain of $1.2 million at June 30, 2021, and a pre-tax unrealized gain of $148,000 at March 31, 2022. The pre-tax unrealized loss on total securities held-to-maturity at June 30, 2022 was ($72.9) million, compared to a pre-tax unrealized gain of $5.4 million at June 30, 2021, and a pre-tax unrealized loss of ($46.1) million at March 31, 2021.
  • During the second quarter of 2022, the Company purchased $9.8 million of agency mortgage-backed securities held-to-maturity, with a book yield of 3.26% and an average life of 6.92 years. During the first six months of 2022, the Company purchased $119.4 million of agency mortgage-backed securities held-to-maturity, with a book yield of 2.21% and an average life of 6.55 years.
• The loan portfolio remains well-diversified as reflected in the following table which summarizes the distribution of loans, excluding loans held-for-sale, and the percentage of distribution in each category for the periods indicated:
  

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(1)   Less than 1% at June 30, 2022.

• The following table summarizes the allowance for credit losses on loans (“ACLL”) for the periods indicated:
  

• Net recoveries totaled $2.9 million for the second quarter of 2022, compared to net recoveries of $153,000 for the second quarter of 2021, and net recoveries of $65,000 for the first quarter of 2022. Net recoveries totaled $2.9 million during both the second quarter and the first six months of 2022, primarily due to recoveries of a couple of larger loans that were previously charged off.

• The following is a breakout of nonperforming assets (“NPAs”) at the periods indicated:

• The following table summarizes the distribution of deposits and the percentage of distribution in each category for the periods indicated:
  

• During the second quarter of 2022, the Company completed a private placement offering of $40.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.00% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due May 15, 2032 (“Sub Debt due 2032”). The Company used the net proceeds of the Sub Debt due 2032 for general corporate purposes, including the repayment on June 1, 2022 of the Company’s $40.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due June 1, 2027. The Sub Debt due 2032, net of unamortized issuance costs of $726,000, totaled $39,274,000 at June 30, 2022, and qualifies as Tier 2 capital for the Company under the guidelines established by the Federal Reserve Bank.
• The Company’s consolidated capital ratios exceeded regulatory guidelines and the Bank’s capital ratios exceeded regulatory guidelines under the Basel III prompt corrective action (“PCA”) regulatory guidelines for a well-capitalized financial institution, and the Basel III minimum regulatory requirements at June 30, 2022, as reflected in the following table:
  

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(1)   Basel III minimum regulatory requirements for both the Company and the Bank include a 2.5% capital conservation buffer, except the leverage ratio.
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• The following table reflects the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, for the periods indicated:
  

• Tangible equity was $427.2 million at June 30, 2022, compared to $400.6 million at June 30, 2021, and $420.4 million at March 31, 2022. Tangible book value per share was $7.04 at June 30, 2022, compared to $6.65 at June 30, 2021, and $6.96 at March 31, 2022.

Heritage Commerce Corp, a bank holding company established in October 1997, is the parent company of Heritage Bank of Commerce, established in 1994 and headquartered in San Jose, CA with full-service branches in Danville, Fremont, Gilroy, Hollister, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill, Oakland, Palo Alto, Pleasanton, Redwood City, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, San Rafael, Sunnyvale, and Walnut Creek. Heritage Bank of Commerce is an SBA Preferred Lender. Bay View Funding, a subsidiary of Heritage Bank of Commerce, is based in San Jose, CA and provides business-essential working capital factoring financing to various industries throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.heritagecommercecorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may be outside our control and our actual results could differ materially from our projected results. Risks and uncertainties that could cause our financial performance to differ materially from our goals, plans, expectations and projections expressed in forward-looking statements include those set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and the following: (1) geopolitical and domestic political developments that can increase levels of political and economic unpredictability, contribute to rising energy prices and commodity prices, and increase the volatility of financial markets; (2) conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other infectious illness outbreaks that may arise in the future, on our customers, employees, businesses, liquidity, and financial results and overall condition including severity and duration of the associated uncertainties in U.S. and global markets; (3) current and future economic and market conditions in the United States generally or in the communities we serve, including the effects of declines in property values and overall slowdowns in economic growth should these events occur; (4) effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve Board; (5) inflationary pressures and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our margin and yields, the fair value of financial instruments or our level of loan originations, or increase in the level of defaults, losses and prepayments on loans we have made and make; (6) changes in the level of nonperforming assets and charge-offs and other credit quality measures, and their impact on the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses and our provision for credit losses; (7) volatility in credit and equity markets and its effect on the global economy; (8) our ability to effectively compete with other banks and financial services companies and the effects of competition in the financial services industry on our business; (9) our ability to achieve loan growth and attract deposits in our market area; (10) risks associated with concentrations in real estate related loans; (11) the relative strength or weakness of the commercial and real estate markets where our borrowers are located, including related asset and market prices; (12) credit related impairment charges to our securities portfolio; (13) increased capital requirements for our continual growth or as imposed by banking regulators, which may require us to raise capital at a time when capital is not available on favorable terms or at all; (14) regulatory limits on Heritage Bank of Commerce’s ability to pay dividends to the Company; (15) changes in our capital management policies, including those regarding business combinations, dividends, and share repurchases; (16) operational issues stemming from, and/or capital spending necessitated by, the potential need to adapt to industry changes in information technology systems, on which we are highly dependent; (17) our inability to attract, recruit, and retain qualified officers and other personnel could harm our ability to implement our strategic plan, impair our relationships with customers and adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects; (18) possible adjustment of the valuation of our deferred tax assets; (19) our ability to keep pace with technological changes, including our ability to identify and address cyber-security risks such as data security breaches, “denial of service” attacks, “hacking” and identity theft; (20) inability of our framework to manage risks associated with our business, including operational risk and credit risk; (21) risks of loss of funding of SBA or SBA loan programs, or changes in those programs; (22) compliance with applicable laws and governmental and regulatory requirements, including the Dodd-Frank Act and others relating to banking, consumer protection, securities, accounting and tax matters; (23) effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters; (24) the expense and uncertain resolution of litigation matters whether occurring in the ordinary course of business or otherwise; (25) availability of and competition for acquisition opportunities; (26) risks resulting from domestic terrorism; (27) risks resulting from social unrest and protests; (28) risks of natural disasters (including earthquakes and flooding) and other events beyond our control; (29) our participation as a lender in the SBA PPP and similar programs and its effect on our liquidity, financial results, businesses and customers, including the ability of customers to comply with requirements and otherwise perform with respect to loans obtained under such programs; (30) our success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing factors.

Member FDIC

For additional information, contact:
Debbie Reuter
EVP, Corporate Secretary
Direct: (408) 494-4542
Debbie.Reuter@herbank.com