Press Release:
Tompkins Financial Corporation ("Tompkins" or the "Company") reported diluted earnings per share of $1.30 for the third quarter of 2024, up 18.2% from the immediate prior quarter, and up 155.3% from the diluted earnings (loss) per share of $(2.35) reported in the third quarter of 2023. Net income for the third quarter of 2024 was $18.6 million, up $3.0 million or 18.9% compared to the second quarter of 2024, and up $52.0 million, or 155.9%, when compared to the net loss of $(33.4) million reported for the third quarter of 2023. The increase in diluted earnings per share and net income compared to the results for the third quarter of 2023 largely reflects the Company's sale of $429.6 million of available-for-sale securities, which resulted in a pre-tax loss of $62.9 million (or $3.34 per share) in the third quarter of 2023.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, diluted earnings (loss) per share were $3.59, up from $(0.39) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Year-to-date net income (loss) was $51.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, up $56.7 million when compared to $(5.5) million for the prior year period. The growth in year-to-date diluted earnings per share and net income was mainly due the Company's sale of $510.5 million of available-for-sale securities which resulted in a pre-tax loss of $70.0 million (or $3.69 per share) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Tompkins President and CEO, Stephen Romaine, commented, "Our third quarter net income was up over 18% as compared to the second quarter, driven by a strengthening net interest margin and growth across our business. For the third quarter our net interest margin expanded 6 basis points, loan balances grew over 8% annualized and our fee-based services continue to provide diversified growing revenue as total noninterest income represented 31% of total revenue. Year-to-date, our operating results were further supported by lower expenses, as noninterest expenses were down 1.5% as compared to prior year. As we are seeing improving profitability we believe that we remain well positioned to continue to drive growth through quality customer relationships supported by our strong capital and liquidity."
SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE PERIOD:
Net interest margin for the third quarter of 2024 was 2.79%, improved from the immediate prior quarter of 2.73%, and the 2.75% reported for the same period of 2023.
Total average cost of funds for the third quarter of 2024 was up 5 basis points compared to the second quarter of 2024, down from a 10 basis point increase from the first quarter of 2024 to the second quarter of 2024.
Total fee-based services (insurance, wealth management, service charges on deposit accounts and cards) revenues for the third quarter of 2024 were up $648,000 or 3.2% compared to the third quarter of 2023.
Total noninterest expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were in line with the second quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2023.
Total loans at September 30, 2024 were up $119.4 million, or 2.1% (8.2% on an annualized basis) compared to June 30, 2024, and up $446.4 million, or 8.2%, from September 30, 2023.
Total deposits at September 30, 2024 were $6.6 billion, up $292.0 million, or 4.7%, from June 30, 2024, and down $45.5 million, or 0.7%, from September 30, 2023.
Loan to deposit ratio at September 30, 2024 was 89.4%, compared to 91.7% at June 30, 2024, and 82.1% at September 30, 2023.
Regulatory Tier 1 capital to average assets was 9.19% at September 30, 2024, up compared to 9.15% at June 30, 2024, and 9.01% at September 30, 2023.
NET INTEREST INCOME
Net interest income was $53.2 million for the third quarter of 2024, up $2.2 million or 4.4% compared to the second quarter of 2024, and $2.2 million or 4.3% compared to the third quarter of 2023. The increase in net interest income compared to both the second quarter of 2024, and third quarter of 2023, resulted primarily from the increase in average loan balances and the average yield on those loan balances, partially offset by the increase in cost of deposits.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, net interest income was $154.8 million, down $2.3 million or 1.5% when compared to the same period in 2023.
Net interest margin was 2.79% for the third quarter of 2024, up 6 basis points when compared to the immediate prior quarter, and up 4 basis points from the 2.75% reported for the third quarter of 2023. The increase in net interest margin, when compared to the prior periods, was mainly driven by higher yields on interest earning assets and higher average loan balances, and was partially offset by higher funding costs.
Average loans for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 were up $143.4 million, or 2.5%, from the second quarter of 2024, and were up $445.7 million, or 8.3%, compared to the same period prior year. The increase in average loans over both prior periods was mainly in the commercial real estate and commercial and industrial portfolios. The average yield on interest-earning assets for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 was 4.66%, which was up from 4.56% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, and up from 4.06% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.
Average total deposits of $6.4 billion for the third quarter of 2024 were up $41.4 million, or 0.7%, compared to the second quarter of 2024, and down $67.0 million or 1.0% compared to the same period in 2023. The cost of interest-bearing deposits of 2.35% for the third quarter of 2024 was up 8 basis points from 2.27% for the second quarter of 2024, and up 61 basis points from 1.74% for the third quarter of 2023. The ratio of average noninterest bearing deposits to average total deposits for the third quarter of 2024 was 28.9% compared to 29.1% for the second quarter of 2024, and 31.0% for the third quarter of 2023. The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the third quarter of 2024 of 2.71% represents an increase of 7 basis points over the second quarter of 2024, and an increase of 73 basis points over the same period in 2023.
NONINTEREST INCOME
Noninterest income of $23.4 million for the third quarter of 2024 was up $65.0 million or 156.2% compared to the same period in 2023. Year-to-date noninterest income of $67.3 million was up $75.9 million or 881.7% compared to the same period in 2023. The increase in quarterly and year-to-date noninterest income compared to the same periods in 2023 was mainly due to the $62.9 million and $70.0 million, respectively, pre-tax loss on the sale of available-for-sale securities in 2023 as discussed above. Other income was up $1.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, and included increases in gains on loan sales, derivative swap fee income, and BOLI income.
Also included in the increase for the third quarter of 2024 over the same period prior year were fee-based revenues which included wealth management fees, up $583,000, service charges on deposit accounts, up $118,000, card services income, up $61,000.
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Noninterest expense was $49.9 million for the third quarter of 2024, which was in line with the third quarter of 2023.
Year-to-date noninterest expense for the period ended September 30, 2024 was $149.7 million, a decrease of $2.3 million or 1.5% compared to the $152.0 million reported for the same period in 2023. The year-over-year decrease was mainly driven by lower other expenses (legal fees, marketing, professional fees, retirement plan expense, and travel and meeting expense), partially offset by higher FDIC insurance expense.
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
The provision for income tax expense was $5.9 million for an effective rate of 23.9% for the third quarter of 2024, compared to tax benefit of $8.3 million and an effective rate of 20.0% for the same quarter in 2023. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the provision for income tax expense was $16.0 million and the effective tax rate was 23.7% compared to a tax benefit of $619,000 and an effective tax rate of 10.3% for the same period in 2023. Lower tax expense for both the quarter and year-to-date periods in 2023 was mainly a result of lower income associated with the loss on the sale of securities described above.
ASSET QUALITY
The allowance for credit losses represented 0.94% of total loans and leases at September 30, 2024, up from 0.92% reported at both June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The increase in the allowance for credit losses coverage ratio was driven primarily by updated economic forecasts for unemployment and gross domestic product for the quarter, as well as model assumption updates for prepayment speeds, curtailment rates, and recovery lag. The increase in allowance for credit losses was partially offset by lower off-balance sheet reserves due to model changes related to utilization rates and a decrease in loan pipeline. The ratio of the allowance to total nonperforming loans and leases was 88.51% at September 30, 2024, compared to 84.94% at June 30, 2024, and 156.96% at September 30, 2023. The decrease in the ratio compared to the same prior year period was due to the increase in nonperforming loans and leases discussed in more detail below.
Provision for credit losses for the third quarter of 2024 was $2.2 million compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2023. Provision for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $5.2 million compared to $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase in provision expense for the quarter and year-to-date periods compared to the same periods in 2023 was mainly driven by loan growth which was up $119.4 million or 2.1%, and $446.4 million or 8.2%, respectively, and the increase in net charge-offs in 2024 over 2023. Net charge-offs for three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 were $912,000 and $1.6 million, respectively, compared to net charge-offs of $177,000 and net recoveries of $1.1 million for the same periods in 2023.
Nonperforming assets represented 0.78% of total assets at September 30, 2024, down slightly from 0.79% reported at June 30, 2024, and up compared to 0.41% at September 30, 2023. At September 30, 2024, nonperforming loans and leases totaled $62.6 million, compared to $62.5 million at June 30, 2024 and $31.4 million at September 30, 2023. The increase in nonperforming loans and leases at September 30, 2024 compared to September 30, 2023 was mainly due to the addition in the fourth quarter of 2023 of one relationship totaling approximately $33.3 million with two commercial real estate properties included in the office space and mixed use properties portion of the commercial real estate portfolio. The Company believes that the existing collateral securing the loans was sufficient to cover the exposure as of September 30, 2024.
Special Mention and Substandard loans and leases totaled $126.0 million at September 30, 2024, compared to $116.2 million reported at June 30, 2024, and $122.9 million reported at September 30, 2023.
CAPITAL POSITION
Capital ratios at September 30, 2024 remained well above the regulatory minimums for well-capitalized institutions. The ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets was 13.21% at September 30, 2024, compared to 13.26% at June 30, 2024, and 13.46% at September 30, 2023. The ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets was 9.19% at September 30, 2024, compared to 9.15% at June 30, 2024, and 9.01% at September 30, 2023.
LIQUIDITY POSITION
The Company's liquidity position at September 30, 2024 was stable and consistent with the immediate prior quarter end. Liquidity is enhanced by ready access to national and regional wholesale funding sources including Federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements, brokered deposits, Federal Reserve Bank's Discount Window advances and Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB) advances. The Company maintained ready access to liquidity of $1.4 billion, or 18.0% of total assets at September 30, 2024. As a member of the FHLB, the Company can use certain unencumbered mortgage-related assets and securities to secure borrowings from the FHLB. At September 30, 2024 the Company had an available borrowing capacity at the FHLB of $769.5 million. Through various programs at the Federal Reserve Bank, the Company has the ability to use certain loans and securities to secure borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank's Discount Window. At September 30, 2024 the available borrowing capacity with the Federal Reserve Bank was $142.0 million, secured by loans. In addition to the available borrowing lines at the FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank, at September 30, 2024, the Company maintained $508.7 million of unencumbered securities which could be pledged to further enhance secured borrowing capacity.
