Stock Yards Bancorp Reports Record Fourth Quarter Earnings of $17.7 Million or $0.78 Per Diluted Share
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Jan. 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBT), parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with offices in the Louisville, Indianapolis and Cincinnati metropolitan markets, today reported record earnings for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020. Net income for the fourth quarter increased 7% to $17.7 million, or $0.78 per diluted share, compared with net income of $16.6 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2019.
Net income for 2020 was $58.9 million, or $2.59 per diluted share, compared to $66.1 million, or $2.89 per diluted share, in 2019. Operating results for the year were lower compared to the record results posted in 2019, primarily due to pandemic-related increases in loan loss provisioning.“Stock Yards Bancorp delivered record earnings in the fourth quarter 2020, driven by an expanded balance sheet fueled by record quarterly loan growth, strong revenue and solid credit quality,” said James A. (Ja) Hillebrand, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The unprecedented events in 2020 and the beginning of 2021 have brought serious economic, health and personal challenges to us all. Given the ongoing impacts of a global pandemic, we remain focused on supporting our customers, communities and employees.“Since April, our active participation in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has helped service the needs of our customers and our local communities. Our success in executing this relief effort allowed us to assist nearly 3,400 customers and originate $657 million in loans while adding new relationships with strong future growth opportunities. As a result, we recorded interest and fee income related to PPP loans of $13.6 million during 2020. Approximately 46% of the net deferred fee income related to the PPP loan portfolio was recognized in 2020, with a significant portion of the remaining net deferred fees expected to be recognized in the first half of 2021.“The first round of PPP expired on August 8, 2020 and as of year-end, we had submitted 520 forgiveness applications to the SBA totaling $170 million and received payment from the SBA for 333 borrowers. Approximately $2.1 million of the income recognized during the fourth quarter related to loan payoffs (fee acceleration). We have $10.5 million in net unrecognized fees related to the PPP that would be recognized in income immediately once the loans are paid off or forgiven by the SBA.”The Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law on December 27, 2020, providing new COVID-19 stimulus relief and it included $284 billion allocated for a second round of PPP lending through March 31, 2021. The program offers new PPP loans for companies that did not receive PPP funds in 2020 in addition to “second draw” loans targeted at hard-hit businesses that have exhausted their initial PPP proceeds. “While we are very early in the process, we anticipate successfully executing this new round of relief efforts and helping our customers and communities. With the new provisions for this second draw, we believe the earnings potential is meaningful, but will likely not meet the level of contribution from the initial PPP loan program,” said Hillebrand.“Despite solid traditional credit metrics, under the CECL methodology we recorded a significant provision for credit losses during the past year. The 2020 provision for credit losses was $16.9 million, compared to $1.0 million in 2019, based on the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on forecasted unemployment and changing macro-economic conditions, as well as qualitative factor adjustments. We feel that we are well positioned as we navigate through the pandemic, having built up significant loan loss reserves, excluding PPP loans, of 1.74%(2) at December 31, 2020,” said Hillebrand.Additional key factors impacting the fourth quarter of 2020 results included:Record diluted quarterly EPS exceeding the previous record set in the third quarter of 2019.Record quarterly loan growth and loan production, concentrated in the commercial & industrial, construction & land development and commercial real estate lending portfolios on a linked quarter basis.COVID-19 related loan deferrals declined significantly to 1.24% of total loans at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020 from 4.25% of total loans three months earlier.Deposit balances remained at record levels, as consumers and businesses continued to build cash reserves.Net interest income increased $3.5 million, or 11%, over the fourth quarter of 2019, driven by PPP related fees and a significant decline in cost of funds.Net interest margin (NIM) compressed 36 basis points to 3.35% compared to the fourth quarter a year ago. NIM continued to be negatively impacted by loan yield contraction driven by low yielding PPP loans, lower interest rates and excess balance sheet liquidity.Lower linked quarter loan loss provisioning.Non-interest income increased over the fourth quarter of 2019, reflecting higher debit/credit card income, growing treasury management fees and continued strong mortgage banking income. While slowly rebounding, deposit service charges continue to be impacted by the pandemic and changes in customer behavior remain subdued.Non-interest expenses reflected moderate increases in compensation, technology and communication and FDIC insurance premiums. Tax credit amortization expense increased $2.1 million related to the completion of a large tax project during the fourth quarter of 2020. Also, an overall increase in line of credit usage led to a reduction in the reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures.
Highlights for the year ended December 31, 2020:Record total revenue, comprising fully taxable equivalent net interest income and non-interest income, of nearly $188 million.Deposit growth and loan production surpassed record levels.Record WM&T services income of $23.4 million boosted by record new business generation and historic market performance.Despite the pandemic, card income, treasury management fees and brokerage income continued to set new highs.Hillebrand added, “We were honored to be recognized nationally for our customer service and for our performance metrics in 2020. In December, we were recognized by Bank Director for our track record of successfully managing the Bank through economic cycles based on our total shareholder return over the 20-year period ended June 30, 2020, ranking #12 on the list of nationally recognized financial institutions. In September, we were named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Banks 2021 list as the best small bank in the state of Kentucky. Additionally, in September we were named once again to the prestigious Piper Sandler Bank and Thrift Sm-All Stars: Class of 2020 list, being one of only 35 institutions to receive this honor. Being recognized for these awards is great affirmation of our extraordinary staff and their commitment to supporting our customers and communities.”Results of Operations – Fourth Quarter 2020 Compared with Fourth Quarter 2019Net interest income – the Company’s largest source of revenue – increased $3.5 million, or 11%, to $36.3 million, driven primarily by PPP loans and related fees and a significant decline in cost of funds.Total interest income increased $508,000, or 1%, to $38.3 million, primarily due to a 5% increase in interest income on loans resulting from PPP interest/fee income partly offset by continued yield contraction.Interest expense declined $3.0 million, or 59%, to $2.1 million. Interest expense on deposits decreased $2.7 million, or 60%, as the cost of interest bearing deposits declined to 0.27% in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 0.79% in the fourth quarter a year ago. The decline in interest bearing deposit costs more than offset the significant increase in average balances, as the Bank benefited from strategically lowering stated deposit rates in tandem with the 225 basis point drop in the Federal Reserve’s short-term interest rates between August of 2019 and March of 2020.NIM decreased 36 basis points to 3.35% for the fourth quarter of 2020 from 3.71%. The NIM contraction was primarily driven by lower interest rates, coupled with higher levels of excess balance sheet liquidity. The Company has maintained significantly higher levels of balance sheet liquidity driven in part by the funding of PPP loans through deposit growth. The PPP loan portfolio had a 9 basis point positive impact to NIM, while excess liquidity had a 18 basis point negative impact.
Loan loss provisioning for the fourth quarter of 2020 reflected record quarter loan growth and was positively impacted by improvement in the future unemployment forecast offset by qualitative factors in the allowance for credit loss model.Non-interest income increased $711,000, or 5%, to $13.7 million.Deposit service charges decreased $319,000, or 23%, primarily related to a decline in non-sufficient funds fees collected and an overall shift in pandemic related customer behavior.Debit/credit card income increased $110,000, or 5%. Card income, which fell drastically in April, rebounded in June, and continued to climb through the end of the fourth quarter.Treasury management fees increased by $137,000, or 10%, primarily due to strong product sales and customer base expansion. This activity offset the significant decline in pandemic related transaction volume during the year.Mortgage banking revenue increased $778,000, or 84%, to $1.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Continued low long-term mortgage rates continued to entice mortgage refinancing and produced a record number of loan sales.Net investment product sales commissions and fees increased $109,000, or 29%, boosted by increased customer trading activity.
Non-interest expenses increased $2.0 million, or 8%, to $28.1 million.Compensation expense increased $599,000, or 4%, primarily due to annual merit-based salary increases, an increase in full time equivalent employees, and increased incentive compensation.Employee benefits decreased $337,000, or 13%, primarily due to lower than projected health insurance expense, partially offset by elevated 401(k) expense tied to the increase in full time equivalent employees.Technology and communication expense for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $639,000, or 39%, compared with the prior year quarter, consistent with expanding customer-facing software and system functionality, as well as increased licensing and maintenance expense, higher mortgage loan processing expenses, treasury management customer expansion and the migration to a hosted core environment during the third quarter of 2020.Marketing and business development expense, which includes all costs associated with promoting the Bank, community investment, retaining customers and acquiring new business, continued to be significantly below the prior period based on reduced travel and customer entertainment expense.Financial Condition – December 31, 2020 Compared with December 31, 2019Total loans increased $687 million, or 24%, to $3.5 billion. Excluding the PPP loan portfolio, total loans increased $136 million, or 5%, during the year, with $122 million of growth in the commercial real estate portfolio and $28 million of growth in residential real estate loans, partially offset by a $37 million decrease in the commercial & industrial portfolio tied to line of credit usage.The Company has made short-term loan modifications involving primarily full-payment deferrals in response to requests from borrowers who experienced business or personal cash flow interruptions related to the pandemic. Through the close of the fourth quarter, there were approximately $37 million in full payment deferral balances, with the largest concentration in the commercial real estate portfolio. Pursuant to the CARES Act, these loan deferrals are not included in non-performing loan statistics.Full payment loan deferral balances have fluctuated as follows:The Company’s management team continues to analyze the evolving economic conditions in its markets while closely monitoring credit metrics, particularly related to the following segments comprising deferrals in the Bank’s portfolio:Asset quality, which has trended within a narrow range over the past several years, remained strong. Non-performing loans were $13.2 million, or 0.44%(2) of total loans (excluding PPP) outstanding compared to $12.1 million, or 0.42% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2019.Non-accrual loans increased $156,000 during the fourth quarter over the prior quarter and increased $1 million compared to a year ago. Approximately $10 million of the non-accrual loan balance at December 31, 2020 relates to one commercial real estate non-owner occupied relationship that was placed on non-accrual status during the second quarter.During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded net loan recoveries totaling $19,000 compared to net loan charge-offs of $86,000 in the fourth quarter of 2019.Total deposits increased $855 million, or 27%, from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020, with non-interest bearing deposits representing $377 million of the increase. The mix of deposits has also improved with higher-cost time deposits declining $40 million during 2020. Both period end and average deposit balances ended at record levels at December 31, 2020. Federal programs such as the PPP and stimulus checks have boosted deposit balances.At December 31, 2020, the Company remained “well capitalized,” the highest regulatory capital rating for financial institutions, with increases in all regulatory capital ratios. Total equity to assets was 9.56% and the tangible common equity ratio was 9.28%(1) at December 31, 2020, compared to 10.91% and 10.55%(1), respectively, at December 31, 2019, with the decline attributable to the January 1, 2020 CECL adoption, the prior year acquisition and the impact of loan growth.In December 2020, the Board of Directors continued the dividend rate of $0.27 per common share initially set in November 2019. The Company is committed to maintaining its current dividend level and will continue to evaluate the related impact on capital levels quarterly.No shares were repurchased in 2020 and approximately 741,000 shares remain eligible for repurchase under the current buy-back plan which expires in May 2021.Results of Operations – Fourth Quarter 2020 Compared with Third Quarter 2020Net interest income increased $2.6 million over the prior quarter to $36.3 million, led by loan growth, PPP fee recognition and the continued decline in cost of funds.Loan provisioning in 2020 has been significantly impacted by the economic crisis and its impact upon the future unemployment forecast within the allowance for credit loss model, qualitative factor adjustments and loan growth.Non-interest income increased $655,000 to $13.7 million. Increases in wealth management and trust service fees, debit/credit card income and higher treasury management fees more than offset a modest fourth quarter reduction in mortgage banking income.Non-interest expenses increased $1.9 million to $28.1 million.Compensation expense increased $772,000 to $14.1 million compared with the third quarter of 2020 due to increased incentive compensation.Employee benefits decreased $680,000 primarily due to lower than projected health insurance expense.Improvement in line of credit usage led to a reduction in the reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposure of $900,000 during the fourth quarter. On a linked quarter basis, this expense category improved by $1.5 million.
Financial Condition December 31, 2020, Compared with September 30, 2020Total assets increased $244 million on a linked quarter basis to $4.6 billion, reflecting significant increases in both loans and investment securities.Total loans increased $59 million on a linked quarter basis to $3.5 billion at quarter end and the deployment of excess liquidity led to a $158 million increase in securities. Total line of credit usage increased to 38% as of December 31, 2020, from 37% at September 30, 2020. C&I line usage increased to 28% as of December 31, 2020, compared to 26% at September 30, 2020.Total deposits increased $234 million, or 6%, on a linked quarter basis due to higher deposit levels consistent with the seasonal increase in public funds and growth in balances with both existing and new customers. The economic slow-down and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has resulted in the customer base maintaining generally higher deposit balances.Stockholders’ equity increased $12 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with the prior quarter, with net income of $17.7 million and the positive change in equity related to the Bank’s investment portfolio offset by dividends declared.About the CompanyLouisville, Kentucky-based Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., with $4.6 billion in assets, was incorporated in 1988 as a bank holding company. It is the parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, which was established in 1904. The Company’s common shares trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “SYBT.”This report contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company’s management believes the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of these assumptions could be inaccurate. Therefore, there can be no assurance the forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: economic conditions both generally and more specifically in the markets in which the Company and its subsidiary operates; competition for the Company’s customers from other providers of financial services; government legislation and regulation, which change and over which the Company has no control; changes in interest rates; material unforeseen changes in liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company’s customers; the effects of government stimulus programs such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act; the effects of the FRB’s benchmark interest rate cuts on liquidity and margins; the potential adverse effects of the coronavirus or any other pandemic on the ability of borrowers to satisfy their obligations to the Company, the level of the Company’s non-performing assets, the demand for the Company’s loans or its other products and services, other aspects of the Company’s business and operations, and financial markets and economic growth, and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. See “Risk Factors” outlined in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.Contact:
T. Clay Stinnett
Executive Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(502) 625-0890
Net income for 2020 was $58.9 million, or $2.59 per diluted share, compared to $66.1 million, or $2.89 per diluted share, in 2019. Operating results for the year were lower compared to the record results posted in 2019, primarily due to pandemic-related increases in loan loss provisioning.“Stock Yards Bancorp delivered record earnings in the fourth quarter 2020, driven by an expanded balance sheet fueled by record quarterly loan growth, strong revenue and solid credit quality,” said James A. (Ja) Hillebrand, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “The unprecedented events in 2020 and the beginning of 2021 have brought serious economic, health and personal challenges to us all. Given the ongoing impacts of a global pandemic, we remain focused on supporting our customers, communities and employees.“Since April, our active participation in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has helped service the needs of our customers and our local communities. Our success in executing this relief effort allowed us to assist nearly 3,400 customers and originate $657 million in loans while adding new relationships with strong future growth opportunities. As a result, we recorded interest and fee income related to PPP loans of $13.6 million during 2020. Approximately 46% of the net deferred fee income related to the PPP loan portfolio was recognized in 2020, with a significant portion of the remaining net deferred fees expected to be recognized in the first half of 2021.“The first round of PPP expired on August 8, 2020 and as of year-end, we had submitted 520 forgiveness applications to the SBA totaling $170 million and received payment from the SBA for 333 borrowers. Approximately $2.1 million of the income recognized during the fourth quarter related to loan payoffs (fee acceleration). We have $10.5 million in net unrecognized fees related to the PPP that would be recognized in income immediately once the loans are paid off or forgiven by the SBA.”The Consolidated Appropriations Act was signed into law on December 27, 2020, providing new COVID-19 stimulus relief and it included $284 billion allocated for a second round of PPP lending through March 31, 2021. The program offers new PPP loans for companies that did not receive PPP funds in 2020 in addition to “second draw” loans targeted at hard-hit businesses that have exhausted their initial PPP proceeds. “While we are very early in the process, we anticipate successfully executing this new round of relief efforts and helping our customers and communities. With the new provisions for this second draw, we believe the earnings potential is meaningful, but will likely not meet the level of contribution from the initial PPP loan program,” said Hillebrand.“Despite solid traditional credit metrics, under the CECL methodology we recorded a significant provision for credit losses during the past year. The 2020 provision for credit losses was $16.9 million, compared to $1.0 million in 2019, based on the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on forecasted unemployment and changing macro-economic conditions, as well as qualitative factor adjustments. We feel that we are well positioned as we navigate through the pandemic, having built up significant loan loss reserves, excluding PPP loans, of 1.74%(2) at December 31, 2020,” said Hillebrand.Additional key factors impacting the fourth quarter of 2020 results included:Record diluted quarterly EPS exceeding the previous record set in the third quarter of 2019.Record quarterly loan growth and loan production, concentrated in the commercial & industrial, construction & land development and commercial real estate lending portfolios on a linked quarter basis.COVID-19 related loan deferrals declined significantly to 1.24% of total loans at the end of the fourth quarter of 2020 from 4.25% of total loans three months earlier.Deposit balances remained at record levels, as consumers and businesses continued to build cash reserves.Net interest income increased $3.5 million, or 11%, over the fourth quarter of 2019, driven by PPP related fees and a significant decline in cost of funds.Net interest margin (NIM) compressed 36 basis points to 3.35% compared to the fourth quarter a year ago. NIM continued to be negatively impacted by loan yield contraction driven by low yielding PPP loans, lower interest rates and excess balance sheet liquidity.Lower linked quarter loan loss provisioning.Non-interest income increased over the fourth quarter of 2019, reflecting higher debit/credit card income, growing treasury management fees and continued strong mortgage banking income. While slowly rebounding, deposit service charges continue to be impacted by the pandemic and changes in customer behavior remain subdued.Non-interest expenses reflected moderate increases in compensation, technology and communication and FDIC insurance premiums. Tax credit amortization expense increased $2.1 million related to the completion of a large tax project during the fourth quarter of 2020. Also, an overall increase in line of credit usage led to a reduction in the reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposures.
Highlights for the year ended December 31, 2020:Record total revenue, comprising fully taxable equivalent net interest income and non-interest income, of nearly $188 million.Deposit growth and loan production surpassed record levels.Record WM&T services income of $23.4 million boosted by record new business generation and historic market performance.Despite the pandemic, card income, treasury management fees and brokerage income continued to set new highs.Hillebrand added, “We were honored to be recognized nationally for our customer service and for our performance metrics in 2020. In December, we were recognized by Bank Director for our track record of successfully managing the Bank through economic cycles based on our total shareholder return over the 20-year period ended June 30, 2020, ranking #12 on the list of nationally recognized financial institutions. In September, we were named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Banks 2021 list as the best small bank in the state of Kentucky. Additionally, in September we were named once again to the prestigious Piper Sandler Bank and Thrift Sm-All Stars: Class of 2020 list, being one of only 35 institutions to receive this honor. Being recognized for these awards is great affirmation of our extraordinary staff and their commitment to supporting our customers and communities.”Results of Operations – Fourth Quarter 2020 Compared with Fourth Quarter 2019Net interest income – the Company’s largest source of revenue – increased $3.5 million, or 11%, to $36.3 million, driven primarily by PPP loans and related fees and a significant decline in cost of funds.Total interest income increased $508,000, or 1%, to $38.3 million, primarily due to a 5% increase in interest income on loans resulting from PPP interest/fee income partly offset by continued yield contraction.Interest expense declined $3.0 million, or 59%, to $2.1 million. Interest expense on deposits decreased $2.7 million, or 60%, as the cost of interest bearing deposits declined to 0.27% in the fourth quarter of 2020 from 0.79% in the fourth quarter a year ago. The decline in interest bearing deposit costs more than offset the significant increase in average balances, as the Bank benefited from strategically lowering stated deposit rates in tandem with the 225 basis point drop in the Federal Reserve’s short-term interest rates between August of 2019 and March of 2020.NIM decreased 36 basis points to 3.35% for the fourth quarter of 2020 from 3.71%. The NIM contraction was primarily driven by lower interest rates, coupled with higher levels of excess balance sheet liquidity. The Company has maintained significantly higher levels of balance sheet liquidity driven in part by the funding of PPP loans through deposit growth. The PPP loan portfolio had a 9 basis point positive impact to NIM, while excess liquidity had a 18 basis point negative impact.
Loan loss provisioning for the fourth quarter of 2020 reflected record quarter loan growth and was positively impacted by improvement in the future unemployment forecast offset by qualitative factors in the allowance for credit loss model.Non-interest income increased $711,000, or 5%, to $13.7 million.Deposit service charges decreased $319,000, or 23%, primarily related to a decline in non-sufficient funds fees collected and an overall shift in pandemic related customer behavior.Debit/credit card income increased $110,000, or 5%. Card income, which fell drastically in April, rebounded in June, and continued to climb through the end of the fourth quarter.Treasury management fees increased by $137,000, or 10%, primarily due to strong product sales and customer base expansion. This activity offset the significant decline in pandemic related transaction volume during the year.Mortgage banking revenue increased $778,000, or 84%, to $1.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2020. Continued low long-term mortgage rates continued to entice mortgage refinancing and produced a record number of loan sales.Net investment product sales commissions and fees increased $109,000, or 29%, boosted by increased customer trading activity.
Non-interest expenses increased $2.0 million, or 8%, to $28.1 million.Compensation expense increased $599,000, or 4%, primarily due to annual merit-based salary increases, an increase in full time equivalent employees, and increased incentive compensation.Employee benefits decreased $337,000, or 13%, primarily due to lower than projected health insurance expense, partially offset by elevated 401(k) expense tied to the increase in full time equivalent employees.Technology and communication expense for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $639,000, or 39%, compared with the prior year quarter, consistent with expanding customer-facing software and system functionality, as well as increased licensing and maintenance expense, higher mortgage loan processing expenses, treasury management customer expansion and the migration to a hosted core environment during the third quarter of 2020.Marketing and business development expense, which includes all costs associated with promoting the Bank, community investment, retaining customers and acquiring new business, continued to be significantly below the prior period based on reduced travel and customer entertainment expense.Financial Condition – December 31, 2020 Compared with December 31, 2019Total loans increased $687 million, or 24%, to $3.5 billion. Excluding the PPP loan portfolio, total loans increased $136 million, or 5%, during the year, with $122 million of growth in the commercial real estate portfolio and $28 million of growth in residential real estate loans, partially offset by a $37 million decrease in the commercial & industrial portfolio tied to line of credit usage.The Company has made short-term loan modifications involving primarily full-payment deferrals in response to requests from borrowers who experienced business or personal cash flow interruptions related to the pandemic. Through the close of the fourth quarter, there were approximately $37 million in full payment deferral balances, with the largest concentration in the commercial real estate portfolio. Pursuant to the CARES Act, these loan deferrals are not included in non-performing loan statistics.Full payment loan deferral balances have fluctuated as follows:The Company’s management team continues to analyze the evolving economic conditions in its markets while closely monitoring credit metrics, particularly related to the following segments comprising deferrals in the Bank’s portfolio:Asset quality, which has trended within a narrow range over the past several years, remained strong. Non-performing loans were $13.2 million, or 0.44%(2) of total loans (excluding PPP) outstanding compared to $12.1 million, or 0.42% of total loans outstanding at December 31, 2019.Non-accrual loans increased $156,000 during the fourth quarter over the prior quarter and increased $1 million compared to a year ago. Approximately $10 million of the non-accrual loan balance at December 31, 2020 relates to one commercial real estate non-owner occupied relationship that was placed on non-accrual status during the second quarter.During the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company recorded net loan recoveries totaling $19,000 compared to net loan charge-offs of $86,000 in the fourth quarter of 2019.Total deposits increased $855 million, or 27%, from December 31, 2019 to December 31, 2020, with non-interest bearing deposits representing $377 million of the increase. The mix of deposits has also improved with higher-cost time deposits declining $40 million during 2020. Both period end and average deposit balances ended at record levels at December 31, 2020. Federal programs such as the PPP and stimulus checks have boosted deposit balances.At December 31, 2020, the Company remained “well capitalized,” the highest regulatory capital rating for financial institutions, with increases in all regulatory capital ratios. Total equity to assets was 9.56% and the tangible common equity ratio was 9.28%(1) at December 31, 2020, compared to 10.91% and 10.55%(1), respectively, at December 31, 2019, with the decline attributable to the January 1, 2020 CECL adoption, the prior year acquisition and the impact of loan growth.In December 2020, the Board of Directors continued the dividend rate of $0.27 per common share initially set in November 2019. The Company is committed to maintaining its current dividend level and will continue to evaluate the related impact on capital levels quarterly.No shares were repurchased in 2020 and approximately 741,000 shares remain eligible for repurchase under the current buy-back plan which expires in May 2021.Results of Operations – Fourth Quarter 2020 Compared with Third Quarter 2020Net interest income increased $2.6 million over the prior quarter to $36.3 million, led by loan growth, PPP fee recognition and the continued decline in cost of funds.Loan provisioning in 2020 has been significantly impacted by the economic crisis and its impact upon the future unemployment forecast within the allowance for credit loss model, qualitative factor adjustments and loan growth.Non-interest income increased $655,000 to $13.7 million. Increases in wealth management and trust service fees, debit/credit card income and higher treasury management fees more than offset a modest fourth quarter reduction in mortgage banking income.Non-interest expenses increased $1.9 million to $28.1 million.Compensation expense increased $772,000 to $14.1 million compared with the third quarter of 2020 due to increased incentive compensation.Employee benefits decreased $680,000 primarily due to lower than projected health insurance expense.Improvement in line of credit usage led to a reduction in the reserve for off-balance sheet credit exposure of $900,000 during the fourth quarter. On a linked quarter basis, this expense category improved by $1.5 million.
Financial Condition December 31, 2020, Compared with September 30, 2020Total assets increased $244 million on a linked quarter basis to $4.6 billion, reflecting significant increases in both loans and investment securities.Total loans increased $59 million on a linked quarter basis to $3.5 billion at quarter end and the deployment of excess liquidity led to a $158 million increase in securities. Total line of credit usage increased to 38% as of December 31, 2020, from 37% at September 30, 2020. C&I line usage increased to 28% as of December 31, 2020, compared to 26% at September 30, 2020.Total deposits increased $234 million, or 6%, on a linked quarter basis due to higher deposit levels consistent with the seasonal increase in public funds and growth in balances with both existing and new customers. The economic slow-down and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has resulted in the customer base maintaining generally higher deposit balances.Stockholders’ equity increased $12 million in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared with the prior quarter, with net income of $17.7 million and the positive change in equity related to the Bank’s investment portfolio offset by dividends declared.About the CompanyLouisville, Kentucky-based Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., with $4.6 billion in assets, was incorporated in 1988 as a bank holding company. It is the parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, which was established in 1904. The Company’s common shares trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “SYBT.”This report contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company’s management believes the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of these assumptions could be inaccurate. Therefore, there can be no assurance the forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: economic conditions both generally and more specifically in the markets in which the Company and its subsidiary operates; competition for the Company’s customers from other providers of financial services; government legislation and regulation, which change and over which the Company has no control; changes in interest rates; material unforeseen changes in liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company’s customers; the effects of government stimulus programs such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act; the effects of the FRB’s benchmark interest rate cuts on liquidity and margins; the potential adverse effects of the coronavirus or any other pandemic on the ability of borrowers to satisfy their obligations to the Company, the level of the Company’s non-performing assets, the demand for the Company’s loans or its other products and services, other aspects of the Company’s business and operations, and financial markets and economic growth, and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. See “Risk Factors” outlined in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.Contact:
T. Clay Stinnett
Executive Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(502) 625-0890
