Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. Reports Results For Second Quarter 2023

• Strategic Merger with NBT Bancorp Approved by Regulators; Merger Expected to Close in August 2023
• Second Quarter Net Income of $0.59 per Basic Common Share and Return on Average Assets of 0.88%
• Deposit Balances, Excluding Brokered Funds, Increased $40.0 million or 3.2% in Second Quarter 2023
• Non-performing Assets were 0.08% of Total Assets at June 30, 2023
• Common Equity Tier 1 and Tangible Common Equity Ratio of 12.41% and 7.71%, Respectively, at June 30, 2023 ¹
  

LAKEVILLE, Conn., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. (“Salisbury”), (NASDAQ Capital Market: “SAL”), the holding company for Salisbury Bank and Trust Company (the “Bank”), announced results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Net income available to common shareholders was $3.4 million, or $0.59 per basic common share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023 (second quarter 2023), compared with $3.0 million, or $0.52 per basic common share, for the first quarter ended March 30, 2023 (first quarter 2023), and $3.8 million, or $0.67 per basic common share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2022 (second quarter 2022). Net income for second quarter 2023 included pre-tax costs of $393 thousand related to Salisbury’s pending merger with NBT Bancorp (“NBT Merger”) and a non-taxable gain of $311 thousand related to proceeds receivable from a bank-owned life insurance policy (“BOLI”) due to the death of a former covered employee.

Salisbury’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard J. Cantele, Jr., stated, “Our results for the second quarter reflected the challenging macroeconomic and banking environment. While deposit balances increased during the quarter, and the credit quality of our loan portfolio remained strong, higher interest rates compressed net interest margin and earnings. Although the operating environment is likely to remain challenging in the near term, we are excited to have received regulatory approval for our strategic merger into NBT Bancorp. We believe Salisbury shareholders will benefit from the additional scale and expanded suite of products and services offered by NBT. I am extremely proud of the employees of Salisbury Bank who have worked diligently over the years to provide outstanding service to our customers and to give back to our communities. I am also grateful to our many customers for allowing us to partner and grow with them. I am confident that our customers will experience the same level of service from NBT.”

Net Interest and Dividend Income

Tax equivalent net interest income of $9.5 million for the second quarter 2023 decreased $1.8 million, or 16.0%, versus first quarter 2023, and decreased $1.6 million, or 14.0%, versus second quarter 2022. Tax equivalent interest income of $15.6 million for second quarter 2023 increased $436 thousand, or 2.9%, versus first quarter 2023 and increased $3.6 million, or 30.5%, from second quarter 2022. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities of $6.0 million for second quarter 2023 increased $2.2 million, or 59.1%, from first quarter 2023 and increased $5.2 million, or 604.7%, from second quarter 2022.

Average earning assets of $1.50 billion for second quarter 2023 increased $5.1 million, or 0.3%, from first quarter 2023, and increased $106.9 million, or 7.7%, versus second quarter 2022. Average earning assets for second quarter 2023 included average PPP loan balances of $0.2 million, net of deferred fees, compared $8.8 million in second quarter 2022. Average total interest bearing liabilities of $1.05 billion for second quarter 2023 increased $26.3 million, or 2.6%, from first quarter 2023 and increased $111.2 million, or 11.8%, versus second quarter 2022. The increase in average total interest-bearing liabilities from the comparative periods primarily reflected higher customer deposits and brokered deposits, which Salisbury utilized to fund loan growth and to provide liquidity.

The tax equivalent net interest margin for second quarter 2023 was 2.50% compared with 2.99% for first quarter 2023 and 3.15% for second quarter 2022. Excluding PPP loans, the tax equivalent net interest margin for second quarter 2023 was 2.50% compared with 2.99% for first quarter 2023 and 3.10% for second quarter 2022. See SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION – Net Interest and Dividend Income on page 9 of this release for additional details.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income of $2.9 million for second quarter 2023 increased $241 thousand versus first quarter 2023 and decreased $363 thousand versus second quarter 2022. Non-interest income for second quarter 2023 included a pre-tax loss of $209 thousand on the sale of $8.2 million of purchased shared national credit commercial loans and a non-taxable gain of $311 thousand related to proceeds receivable from a BOLI due to the death of a former covered employee. Second quarter 2022 similarly included a non-recurring non-taxable BOLI gain of $89 thousand due to the death of former covered employee.

Trust and Wealth Advisory fees of $1.3 million for second quarter 2023 increased $177 thousand from first quarter 2023 and increased $37 thousand from second quarter 2022. The change in fee income versus the comparative quarters was primarily driven by estate fees and seasonal tax preparation fees. Assets under administration were $1.35 billion at June 30, 2023 compared with $1.29 billion at December 31, 2022 and $1.26 billion at June 30, 2022. Discretionary assets under administration of $638.1 million at June 30, 2023 compared with $561.1 million at December 31, 2022 and $546.5 million at June 30, 2022. The variance from the comparative quarters primarily reflected changes in market valuations. Non-discretionary assets under administration of $711.7 million at June 30, 2023 decreased from $728.9 million at December 31, 2022 and decreased from $714.7 million at June 30, 2022. The variance from the comparative periods primarily reflected changes in the valuation of certain partnership assets for an existing client relationship. The trust and wealth business records only a nominal annual fee on this relationship.

Service charges and fees of $1.25 million for second quarter 2023 increased $16 thousand from first quarter 2023 and decreased $472 thousand from second quarter 2022, which included non-recurring loan pre-payment fees of $425 thousand. The increase from first quarter 2023 primarily reflected higher interchange fees, which were partially offset by lower deposit and lending-related fees. The decrease from second quarter 2022 primarily reflected lower lending fees, which were partially offset by higher deposit and other fees.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense of $8.8 million for second quarter 2023 decreased $350 thousand from first quarter 2023 and increased $244 thousand versus second quarter 2022. Non-interest expense for second quarter 2023 included costs of $393 thousand associated with the pending NBT merger compared with $385 thousand in first quarter 2023. Non-interest expense for first quarter 2023 also included a non-recurring charge of $158 thousand to write off fixed assets in the Red Oaks Mill, New York branch, which closed on April 30, 2023. Compensation expense of $4.9 million for second quarter 2023 decreased $332 thousand from first quarter 2023 and decreased $88 thousand versus second quarter 2022. The decrease from first quarter 2022 primarily reflected lower benefits expense and payroll taxes. The decrease from second quarter 2022 primarily reflected lower production and incentive accruals as well as lower benefits expense, which were partially offset by higher deferred compensation costs.

Excluding compensation expense, other non-interest expenses for second quarter 2023 decreased $18 thousand from first quarter 2023 and increased $332 thousand from second quarter 2022. The decrease from first quarter 2023 reflected the write-off of fixed assets associated with the Red Oaks Mill, New York branch closure in the prior quarter and lower professional fees, partially offset by higher technology and higher FDIC insurance costs. Similarly, the increase from second quarter 2022 primarily reflected higher technology and facilities related expenses and higher FDIC insurance costs, which were partially offset by lower marketing expenses and lower director fees.

The effective income tax rates for second quarter 2023, first quarter 2023 and second quarter 2022 were 12.7%, 20.0% and 15.3%, respectively. The lower tax rate in second quarter 2023 was primarily attributed to the non-taxable BOLI proceeds noted above and a release of $163 thousand of reserves to reflect Salisbury’s estimated tax liability at June 30, 2023.

Loans

Gross loans receivable of $1.25 billion for second quarter 2023 increased $2.4 million, or 0.2%, from first quarter 2023, and increased $103.7 million, or 9.0%, from second quarter 2022. New loan originations in second quarter 2023 were mostly offset by the sale of $8.2 million of shared national credit loans and the paydown of commercial credit lines. Residential 5+ multifamily gross loans receivable at June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 included a loan for approximately $16.0 million. At June 30, 2022 this loan, which had a gross balance of approximately $12.0 million, was reported in the commercial real estate category while the project was under construction. The ratio of gross loans to deposits for second quarter 2023 was 92.1% compared with 96.7% for first quarter 2023 and 87.3% for second quarter 2022. Balances by loan type for the comparative periods were as follows:

Asset Quality

Non-performing assets of $1.3 million, or 0.08% of total assets at June 30, 2023, decreased $1.3 million from $2.7 million, or 0.17% of total assets at December 31, 2022, and decreased $2.9 million from $4.2 million, or 0.28% of total assets, at June 30, 2022.

Accruing loans receivable 30-to-89 days past due of $0.7 million, or 0.06% of gross loans receivable, decreased $0.6 million from $1.3 million, or 0.11% of gross loans receivable at December 31, 2022, and decreased $0.3 million from $1.0 million, or 0.09% of gross loans receivable at June 30, 2022.

The allowance for credit losses for second quarter 2023 was $15.6 million compared with $16.0 million for first quarter 2023 and $13.7 million for second quarter 2022. The provision release for second quarter 2023 was $0.4 million compared with provision expenses of $0.9 million for first quarter 2023 and $1.1 million for second quarter 2022. The benefit for second quarter 2023 primarily reflected the release of reserves associated with the shared national credit commercial loans, which Salisbury sold during the quarter, and an improvement in the forecast of certain macro-economic factors, which underpin the Bank’s allowance for credit losses model. Net loan charge-offs were $47 thousand for the second quarter 2023 compared with $32 thousand for first quarter 2023 and $312 thousand for the second quarter 2022.

Reserve coverage, as measured by the ratio of the allowance for credit losses to gross loans, excluding PPP loans, was 1.24% for the second quarter 2023 versus 1.28% for first quarter 2023 and 1.20% for second quarter 2022. Similarly, reserve coverage, as measured by the ratio of the allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans was 1,178% for the second quarter 2023 versus 714% for first quarter 2023 and 324% for second quarter 2022.

Salisbury endeavors to work constructively to resolve its non-performing loan issues with customers. Substantially all non-performing loans are collateralized with real estate and the repayment of such loans is largely dependent on the return of such loans to performing status or the liquidation of the underlying real estate collateral.

Deposits, Borrowings and Liquidity

Total deposits of $1.36 billion at June 30, 2023 increased $1.6 million, or 0.1%, from December 31, 2022 and increased $43.4 million, or 3.3%, from June 30, 2022. Salisbury accumulates deposits from a diverse customer base. At June 30, 2023, the composition of Salisbury’s deposit balances was as follows: retail: 42%; commercial: 39%; municipalities: 8%; brokered funds: 6%; Wealth Advisory: 5%; and educational institutions: 1%. At June 30, 2023, the balance of Salisbury’s deposits that were not insured by the FDIC or not collateralized by marketable securities owned by Salisbury was approximately $340 million, or 25%, of total deposits.

At June 30, 2023, Salisbury had outstanding brokered deposits balances of $80.1 million compared with balances of $45.0 million at December 31, 2022 and $35.0 million at June 30, 2022. Brokered deposits are included in the certificates of deposit balances on Salisbury’s consolidated balance sheet. Management utilizes brokered deposits to fund loan growth and as a source of liquidity. Excluding brokered funds, Salisbury’s deposits increased $40.0 million, or 3.2%, from first quarter 2023. Average total deposits were $1.4 billion for second quarter 2023 and first quarter 2023 compared with $1.3 billion for second quarter 2022. Average total deposits for second quarter 2023 included average brokered deposits of $75.0 million compared with $47.9 million for first quarter 2023 and $18.0 million for second quarter 2022.

Salisbury has access to various sources of liquidity, including the FHLBB and the Federal Reserve Bank. Salisbury had $20.0 million of outstanding advances from FHLBB at June 30, 2023 compared with $10.0 million at December 31, 2022. Salisbury did not have any outstanding advances from FHLBB at June 30, 2022. Salisbury’s excess borrowing capacity at FHLBB was approximately $218 million at June 30, 2023. Additionally, at June 30, 2023, Salisbury had approximately $76 million of eligible collateral that could be posted to the Federal Reserve to secure funds under the Bank Term Funding Program. Salisbury has not borrowed funds under this program.

Capital

Shareholders’ equity increased $0.7 million in second quarter to $133.1 million at June 30, 2023 as net income of $3.4 million and other activity of $0.2 million, were partially offset by unrealized losses, net of taxes, in the available-for-sale securities (“AFS”) portfolio of $2.0 million, and common stock dividends paid of $0.9 million. The unrealized losses, net of taxes, in the AFS portfolio were $20.0 million at June 30, 2023. Book value per common share of $22.91 at June 30, 2023 increased $0.12 from first quarter 2023 and increased $0.90 from second quarter 2022. Tangible book value per common share of $20.51 at June 30, 2023 increased $0.13 from first quarter 2023 and increased $0.94 from second quarter 2022. At June 30, 2023, the Bank’s tangible common equity ratio, which included the unrealized losses in the AFS portfolio noted above, was 7.71%.

The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios remain in compliance with regulatory “well capitalized” requirements. At June 30, 2023, the Bank’s Tier 1 leverage, total risk-based capital, and common equity tier 1 capital ratios were 10.15%, 13.66%, and 12.41%, respectively, compared with regulatory “well capitalized” minimums of 5.00%, 10.00%, and 6.5%, respectively. The unrealized losses in the AFS portfolio noted above do not affect the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios.

Dividend on Common Shares

Presuming the NBT Merger is consummated by such time, Salisbury shareholders will receive a quarterly cash dividend, which will be paid by NBT, on September 15, 2023 to shareholders of record as of September 1, 2023.

Other Matters

In July 2022, Salisbury management discovered that the Bank’s trust department terminated a trust account in May 2020 and distributed approximately $1.0 million that should have been retained in continuance of the trust account. In March 2023, Salisbury filed an amended complaint against the beneficiaries to recover the distributed proceeds and to reinstate the trust account. Management believes that Salisbury’s exposure could possibly range from approximately $0.0 million to $0.4 million depending upon the amount the beneficiaries contribute toward the reinstatement of the trust and potential insurance coverage.

Background

Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Salisbury Bank and Trust Company, a Connecticut chartered commercial bank serving the communities of northwestern Connecticut and proximate communities in New York and Massachusetts, since 1848, through full service branches in Canaan, Lakeville, Salisbury and Sharon, Connecticut; Great Barrington, South Egremont and Sheffield, Massachusetts; and Dover Plains, Fishkill, Millerton, Newburgh, New Paltz, and Poughkeepsie, New York. The Bank offers a broad spectrum of consumer and business banking products and services, as well as trust and wealth advisory services. For more information, please visit www.salisburybank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain statements relating to Salisbury’s and the Bank’s future results that are considered “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and expectations of management as well as the assumptions and estimates made by management using information currently available to management. Since these statements reflect the views of management concerning future events, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including among others: changes in market interest rates and general and regional economic conditions; changes in laws and regulations; changes in accounting principles; and the quality or composition of the loan and investment portfolios, technological changes and cybersecurity matters, and other factors that may be described in Salisbury’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K, which are available at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website (www.sec.gov) and to which reference is hereby made. Forward-looking statements made by Salisbury in this news release speak only as of the date they are made. Events or other facts that could cause Salisbury’s actual results to differ may arise from time to time and Salisbury cannot predict all such events and factors. Salisbury undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement unless as may be required by law.

Investor presentation slides, which include a review of financial results and trends through the period ended June 30, 2023, are available in the Shareholder Relations section of Salisbury’s website at salisburybank.com under About Us/Shareholder Relations/News & Market Information/Presentations.

Source: Salisbury Bancorp, Inc.

Salisbury Contact: Richard J. Cantele, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer
860-435-9801 or [email protected]

Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)