Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. Reports Strong Results for Third Quarter 2020; Declares 29 Cent Dividend

Third Quarter 2020 Net Income of $1.53 per Basic Common Share
Common Equity Tier 1 and Total Capital Ratios of 12.3% and 13.6%, RespectivelyNon-Performing Assets were 0.36% of Total Assets Compared with 0.35% at December 31, 2019Book Value and Tangible Book Value Per Common Share Increased 7% and 8%, Respectively in 2020LAKEVILLE, Conn., Oct. 30, 2020 (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 third quarter ended September 30, 2020.Net income allocated to common shareholders was $4.3 million, or $1.53 per common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 (third quarter 2020), compared with $2.7 million, or $0.96 per common share, for the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 (second quarter 2020), and $2.9 million, or $1.06 per common share, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019 (third quarter 2019). Results for third quarter 2020 included a loan loss provision of $686 thousand, and a non-recurring non-taxable gain of $601 thousand, or $0.21 per basic common share, related to proceeds received from a bank-owned life insurance policy (“BOLI”) due to the death of a covered former employee.Salisbury’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Richard J. Cantele, Jr., stated, “I am extremely proud of our Salisbury Bank team, which has successfully met the challenges of serving our customers and communities during these difficult times. During this pandemic we extended $100 million in PPP loans and worked with numerous commercial and residential customers to accommodate their needs for temporary loan payment deferrals. Our efforts have assisted the economic survival of our customers. We reported strong earnings for the third quarter and we continued to bolster our allowance for loan losses and our capital base. We have also been able to increase book value and tangible book value per common share by 7% and 8%, respectively so far for this year. As we enter the colder months, however, the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and its impact on businesses is extremely high. As a result, we continue to closely monitor our loan portfolio and our lenders constantly communicate with our customers. Salisbury remains committed to providing outstanding customer service and supporting our local communities during this crisis.”Net-Interest and Dividend IncomeTax equivalent net interest income of $10.1 million for the third quarter 2020 increased $313 thousand, or 3.2%, versus second quarter 2020, and increased $1.3 million, or 14.4%, versus third quarter 2019. Interest income was essentially unchanged compared to second quarter 2020 and third quarter 2019. Third quarter 2020 included PPP fees and interest of $651 thousand compared with $561 thousand in second quarter 2020. The cost of interest bearing liabilities declined $0.2 million, or 18.8%, from second quarter 2020 and declined $1.3 million, or 54.3%, from third quarter 2019.Average earning assets increased $42.1 million, or 3.6%, versus second quarter 2020, and increased $150.9 million, or 14.1%, versus third quarter 2019. Average earning assets for third quarter 2020 included average PPP loan balances of $97.0 million. Average total interest bearing liabilities increased $23.0 million, or 2.8%, versus second quarter 2020 and increased $64.9 million, or 8.4%, versus third quarter 2019. The increase from third quarter 2019 primarily reflected the funding of PPP loans.The tax equivalent net interest margin for the third quarter 2020 was 3.29% compared with 3.31% for the second quarter 2020 and 3.29% for the third quarter 2019. See SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION – Net Interest and Dividend Income on pages 8-9 of this release for additional details.Non-Interest IncomeNon-interest income of $3.3 million for third quarter 2020 increased $1.0 million compared with second quarter 2020 and third quarter 2019. Non-interest income for third quarter 2020 included a non-recurring non-taxable BOLI gain of $601 thousand due to the death of a covered former employee. The increase in non-interest income from the comparative quarters also reflected higher realized gains on the sale of residential mortgages.Trust and Wealth Advisory fees of $1.1 million increased slightly compared with both second quarter 2020 and third quarter 2019. Assets under administration were $748.2 million as of September 30, 2020 compared with $704.1 million at June 30, 2020 and $752.5 million as of September 30, 2019. Discretionary assets under administration of $515.0 million in third quarter 2020 increased from $480.5 million in second quarter 2020 and $475.5 million in third quarter 2019. The growth from second quarter 2020 primarily reflected higher market valuations whereas the growth versus third quarter 2019 primarily reflected new business activity. Non-discretionary assets under administration were $233.2 million in third quarter 2020 compared with $223.6 million in second quarter 2020 and $277.0 million in third quarter 2019. The increase from second quarter 2020 primarily reflected higher valuations whereas the decline from third quarter 2019 primarily reflected a lower valuation of shares in a partnership for one significant client relationship for which the trust and wealth business recorded only a nominal annual fee.Service charges and fees of $711 thousand increased $113 thousand versus second quarter 2020 and decreased $292 thousand versus third quarter 2019. The increase from second quarter 2020 primarily reflected higher interchange fees whereas the decline from third quarter 2019 reflected lower deposit fees. To help support the financial needs of our customers and the communities in our markets, the Bank waived approximately $289 thousand and $558 thousand of deposit and transaction fees in the third quarter and the nine month period ended September 30, 2020, respectively.Income from sales and servicing of mortgage loans of $736 thousand increased $418 thousand versus second quarter 2020 and increased $618 thousand from third quarter 2019. Mortgage loans of $26.6 million were sold during the third quarter 2020 compared with sales of $14.7 million for second quarter 2020 and $5.6 million in third quarter 2019.Non-Interest ExpenseNon-interest expense of $7.3 million for third quarter 2020 increased $470 thousand versus second quarter 2020 and increased $75 thousand versus third quarter 2019. Compensation expense of $4.2 million for third quarter 2020 increased $727 thousand from second quarter 2020 and decreased $48 thousand versus third quarter 2019. The second quarter 2020 included the deferral of approximately $540 thousand of compensation costs associated with originating PPP loans. These deferred costs will be amortized into income over the term of the PPP loans as an offset to loan interest income, which is a component of net interest margin. Third quarter 2020 also reflected higher salary expense and production accruals, which were driven by increased loan origination volume.Excluding compensation, other non-interest expenses of $3.1 million for third quarter 2020 decreased $257 thousand from second quarter 2020 and increased $123 thousand from third quarter 2019. The decrease from second quarter 2020 primarily reflected lower consulting and director fees as well as a decline in community support donations, which were accelerated in second quarter 2020. The increase from third quarter 2019 primarily reflected FDIC assessment credits recorded in the prior year third quarter.The effective income tax rates for third quarter 2020, second quarter 2020 and third quarter 2019 were 17.3%, 18.1% and 18.0%, respectively. The lower tax rate in third quarter 2020 primarily reflected the non-taxable BOLI proceeds received during the quarter.LoansGross loans for third quarter 2020 of $1.0 billion included $99.9 million in PPP loans, which are categorized as commercial & industrial loans in the below table, and net deferred fees of $2.3 million. Excluding PPP loans, gross loans receivable were $947.0 million at September 30, 2020, compared with $955.8 million at June 30, 2020, and $923.9 million at September 30, 2019. Including PPP loans, the ratio of gross loans to deposits for third quarter 2020 was 95.4% compared with 97.0% for second quarter 2020 and 95.6% for third quarter 2019. Balances by loan type for the comparative periods were as follows:Asset QualityIn March 2020, Salisbury implemented a loan payment deferral program which allowed residential, commercial and consumer borrowers, who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, to defer loan payments for up to three months. Customers may also apply for additional deferments. As of September 30, 2020, loan payments were deferred on 21 residential and consumer loans ($7 million loan balance) and 37 commercial loans ($56 million loan balance).Non-performing assets decreased $0.1 million during third quarter 2020 to $4.7 million, or 0.36% of total assets at September 30, 2020, from $4.8 million, or 0.37% of total assets at June 30, 2020, and decreased $1.0 million from $5.7 million, or 0.50% of total assets, at September 30, 2019.The amount of total impaired and potential problem loans decreased $0.1 million during the third quarter 2020 to $26.8 million, or 2.56% of gross loans receivable, at September 30, 2020 compared to $26.9 million, or 2.55% of gross loans receivable, at June 30, 2020, and increased $4.2 million from $22.6 million, or 2.44% of gross loans receivable, at September 30, 2019.Accruing loans receivable 30-to-89 days past due decreased $1.0 million during third quarter 2020 to $1.6 million, or 0.16% of gross loans receivable, from $2.7 million, or 0.25% of gross loans receivable at June 30, 2020, and decreased $0.2 million from $1.8 million, or 0.19% of gross loans receivable at September 30, 2019.The allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2020 was $13.0 million compared with $12.4 million at June 30, 2020 and $8.8 million at September 30, 2019. The provision for loan losses expense was $0.7 million for third quarter 2020 versus $1.8 million for second quarter 2020, and $94 thousand for third quarter 2019. The provision for third quarter reflected management’s assessment of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on certain qualitative and environmental factors and impaired loans. Net loan charge-offs were $56 thousand for the third quarter 2020, $53 thousand for second quarter 2020 and $135 thousand for the third quarter 2019. Reserve coverage, as measured by the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to gross loans, was 1.24% for the third quarter 2020, versus 1.18% for second quarter 2020 and 0.96% for third quarter 2019. Excluding PPP loans and deferred net fees, the ratio of the allowance for loan losses to gross loans was 1.37% for third quarter 2020 compared with 1.29% for second quarter 2020.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 and BorrowingsDeposits of $1.1 billion at September 30, 2020 increased $9.5 million from June 30, 2020 and increased $129.0 million from September 30, 2019. Deposits at September 30, 2020 included brokered deposits, including CDARS one-way buys, of $18.0 million compared with $38.2 million at June 30, 2020 and $32.9 million at September 30, 2019. Average total deposits for third quarter 2020 were $1.1 billion compared with $1.0 billion at June 30, 2020 and $938.5 million at September 30, 2019. Average total deposits for third quarter 2020 included average brokered deposits of $24.9 million compared with $44.2 million for second quarter 2020 and $31.6 million for third quarter 2019.FHLB advances of $43.9 million at September 30, 2020 decreased $11.2 million from June 30, 2020 and increased $6.1 million from September 30, 2019. Salisbury’s excess borrowing capacity at FHLBB was approximately $234 million at September 30, 2020.CapitalBook value per common share increased $1.33 during the third quarter 2020 to $42.99 per share and increased $3.47 from the third quarter 2019. Tangible book value per common share increased $1.36 during third quarter 2020 to $37.87 and increased $3.63 from the third quarter 2019.Shareholders’ equity increased $3.8 million in third quarter 2020 to $122.2 million at September 30, 2020 as net income of $4.4 million and the issuance of restricted stock awards of $0.2 million were partly offset by common stock dividends paid of $0.8 million.The Bank’s regulatory capital ratios remain in compliance with regulatory “well capitalized” requirements. At September 30, 2020, the Bank’s Tier 1 leverage, total risk-based capital, and common equity tier 1 capital ratios were 8.93%, 13.6%, and 12.3%, respectively, compared with regulatory “well capitalized” minimums of 5.00%, 10.00%, and 6.5%, respectively.Dividends on Common SharesThe Board of Directors of Salisbury declared a $0.29 per common share quarterly cash dividend at its October 30, 2020 meeting. The dividend will be paid on November 27, 2020 to shareholders of record as of November 13, 2020.BackgroundSalisbury 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, Poughkeepsie, and Red Oaks Mill, New York. The Bank offers a broad spectrum of consumer and business banking products and services as well as trust and wealth advisory services.Forward-Looking StatementsThis 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 September 30, 2020, are available in the Shareholder Relations section of Salisbury’s website at salisburybank.com under Shareholder Relations/News & Market Information/Presentations simultaneously with this Release.Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and SubsidiaryCONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and SubsidiaryCONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)
Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and SubsidiarySELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited)⁽¹⁾ Adjusted to reflect the U.S. federal statutory benefit on income derived from tax-exempt securities and loans.
⁽²⁾ Refer to schedule labeled “Supplemental Information – Non-GAAP Financial Measures”.
⁽³⁾ Calculated as follows: Noninterest expense before OREO expense, amortization of intangibles, and goodwill impairments as a percent of net interest income (fully taxable equivalent) and noninterest revenues, excluding gains from securities transactions and litigation expenses.
⁽⁴⁾ Represents the capital ratios of the Bank.
Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION – Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)¹ Excluding revenue and expenses associated with trust & wealth advisory, the efficiency ratios would be: Q3 2020: 54.76%; Q2 2020: 54.29%; Q1 2020: 59.83%; Q4 2019: 60.19%; Q3 2019: 61.13%. If Q3 2020 results were normalized to exclude the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-interest expense would increase by $48 thousand for deferred compensation costs and revenue would be adjusted to include waived deposit fees of $289 thousand and exclude PPP loan interest and fee income of $251 thousand and $400 thousand, respectively. The resulting normalized efficiency ratio for Q3 2020 would have been 58.37% or 56.94%, excluding trust & wealth advisory.Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION – Net Interest and Dividend Income (unaudited)(a)  Includes non-accrual loans.
(b)  Includes interest-bearing deposits in other banks and federal funds sold.
(c)  Average balances of securities are based on historical cost.
(d)  Includes tax exempt income benefit of $176,000, $170,000 and $164,000, respectively, for Q3 2020, Q2 2020 and Q3 2019 on tax-exempt securities and loans whose income and yields are calculated on a tax-equivalent basis. The income benefit reflected the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% for 2020 and 2019.
(e)  Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION – Net Interest and Dividend Income (unaudited)(a)  Includes non-accrual loans.
(b)  Includes interest-bearing deposits in other banks and federal funds sold.
(c)  Average balances of securities are based on historical cost.
(d)  Includes tax exempt income benefit of $514,000 and $432,000, respectively for 2020 and 2019 on tax-exempt securities and loans whose income and yields are calculated on a tax-equivalent basis. The income benefit reflected the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% for 2020 and 2019.
(e)  Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.Source: Salisbury Bancorp, Inc.Salisbury Contact: Richard J. Cantele, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer
860-435-9801 or rcantele@salisburybank.com