BCBP Reports Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings
January 28, 2025
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Interest income decreased by $3.1 million, or 6.1 percent, to $46.7 million for the fourth
quarter of 2024, from $49.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The average balance of interest-earning assets decreased $226.6 million, or 6.1 percent. The rate of return remained flat at 5.33 percent.
Interest expense declined $1.3 million, to $24.5 million, for the fourth quarter of 2024, from $25.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Average interest-bearing liabilities decreased $247.2 million, or 8.3 percent. The average yield on these liabilities was 3.57 percent, versus 3.45 percent from one year earlier.
The net interest margin was 2.53 percent for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 2.57 percent for the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease in the
net interest margin compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 was the result of the increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The yield on interest earning assets remained the same from one year earlier.
During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company recognized $4.1 million in net charge-offs compared to $233 thousand in net charge offs for the
fourth quarter of 2023. The Bank had non-accrual loans totaling $44.7 million, or 1.48 percent of gross loans, at December 31, 2024 as compared to $18.8 million, or 0.57 percent of
gross loans, at December 31, 2023. The allowance for credit losses on loans was $34.8 million, or 1.15 percent of gross loans, at December 31, 2024, and $33.6 million, or 1.01 percent of gross loans, at
December 31, 2023. The provision for credit losses on loans was $4.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $1.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. Management believes that the allowance for credit losses on loans was
adequate at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
Non-interest income decreased by $2.3 million
to $938 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2024 from $3.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease in total non-interest income was related to losses on equity investments of
$661 thousand in the 2024 quarter as compared to a gain on such investments of $1.1 million in the 2023 quarter, as well as the recordation of a $570 thousand loss on the sale of a
non-performing loan during the fourth quarter.
Non-interest expense
decreased by $2.2 million, or 13.3 percent, to $14.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 from $16.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease in these expenses for the fourth quarter of 2024 was driven by lower
salaries and benefits expense, which declined $857 thousand. The fourth quarter of 2023 salaries and benefits included a previously disclosed one-time payment of $1.17 million to a former executive
officer. Professional fees, regulatory assessment fees and advertising and promotional costs also declined by $388 thousand, $373 thousand, and $191 thousand, respectively.
The income tax provision decreased by $1.3 million, or 48.4 percent, to $1.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. The provision was
$2.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The consolidated effective tax rate was 29.0 percent for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 29.9 percent for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Year-to-Date Income Statement Review
Net income decreased by $10.9 million, or 36.8 percent, to $18.6 million for the twelve months of 2024 from $29.5 million for the twelve
months of 2023. The decrease in net income was driven, primarily, by lower net interest income of $12.0 million, or 11.6 percent, and an increase in the provision for credit losses by $5.5 million.
Net interest income decreased by $12.0 million, or 11.6 percent, to $92.0 million for the first twelve months of 2024 from $104.1 million
for the twelve months of 2023. The decrease in net interest income resulted from an increase in interest expense of $17.7 million, partly offset by an increase in interest income of $5.6 million.
Interest income increased by $5.6 million, or 3.0 percent, to $194.0 million for the twelve months of 2024, from $188.4 million for the
twelve months of 2023. The increase was due to an increase of 22 basis points on interest earning assets, from 5.16 percent to 5.38 percent. Offsetting this, somewhat, was a decrease in average interest earning assets of
$47.5 million, for the comparable period, which was comprised of a decrease in average loans of $84.8 million offset by an increase in average other interest-earning assets of $37.6 million.
Interest expense increased by $17.7 million, or 21.0 percent, to $102.0 million for 2024, from $84.3 million for 2023. This increase
resulted primarily from an increase in the average rate on interest-bearing liabilities of 64 basis points to 3.57 percent for the twelve months of 2024, from 2.93 percent for the twelve months of 2023. Offsetting this was a decrease in
average interest bearing liabilities of $18.5 million over the same comparable time period.