Bank of the James Announces Second Quarter, First Half 2018 Financial Results and Declaration of Dividend

Strong Year-Over-Year Net Income Growth, Loan Growth, Asset Quality Stability


LYNCHBURG, Va., July 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) (NASDAQ:BOTJ), the parent company of Bank of the James, a full-service commercial and retail bank serving the greater Lynchburg area (Region 2000), and the Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, and Roanoke, Virginia markets, today announced unaudited results for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018.

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $1.30 million or $0.30 per diluted share, up 65% compared with $787,000 or $0.18 per diluted share for the three months ended June 30, 2017. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, net income rose 57% to $2.42 million or $0.55 per diluted share, compared with $1.55 million or $0.35 per diluted share for the six months ended June 30, 2017.

Highlights

  • Commercial & industrial (C&I) lending and commercial real estate (CRE) lending were the major contributors to 15% growth of interest income from earning assets in the second quarter of 2018 compared with the second quarter of 2017.
  • Net interest income before the provision for loan losses was $5.80 million in the second quarter of 2018, up 13% from the second quarter of 2017, led primarily by growth in commercial lending.
  • Total noninterest income, primarily reflecting increased fee income from treasury services, income from the Company’s insurance and investments business, and growth in gains on sale of residential mortgage loans, rose 20% in the second quarter of 2018 compared with the second quarter of 2017. In the first half of 2018, total noninterest income was up 27% as compared to the first half of 2017.
  • Deposits were $596.07 million, a company record, led by core deposit growth (noninterest-bearing demand, NOW, savings and money market accounts).
  • Total assets, driven primarily by a 7% year-over-year growth in net loans and loans held for sale, increased to a Company-record $655.87 million at June 30, 2018. Asset quality ratios remained strong, reflecting loan portfolio strength.
  • Measures of productivity trended positively, as Return on Average Assets (ROAA) was 0.79% for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 as compared to 0.54% for the quarter ended June 30, 2017, and Return on Average Equity (ROAE) increased to 9.67% for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 from 6.13% a year earlier. The Company’s efficiency ratio was 73.3% in the second quarter of 2018, improving from 75.6% a year earlier.
  • Total stockholders’ equity increased to $52.52 million at June 30, 2018 from $51.67 million December 31, 2017, and retained earnings increased to $14.17 million from $12.27 million at year-end 2017. Based on the results achieved in the first quarter, on July 17, 2018 the Company’s board of directors approved a $0.06 per share dividend payable to stockholders of record on September 7, 2018, to be paid on September 21, 2018.

Robert R. Chapman III, President and CEO, commented: “Our financial results, including one of the best quarters for earnings in the Company’s history, reflected the continued revenue contributions throughout the Company. Continuing gains in productivity and efficiency, as seen in higher year-over-year ROAA and ROAE and an improved efficiency ratio, are supporting our goal of generating an accelerating and predictable earnings flow. Managing interest expense while growing our deposit base, and maintaining solid loan quality have also supported earnings growth.

“Commercial lending and banking continued the positive performance of the past several quarters, and our BOTJ Investment Services team and Mortgage Lending group both had record quarters for production. Our expanded team of mortgage lenders, and continuing success in growing our reputation throughout our served markets as a mortgage origination leader led to this positive performance. Contributions from BOTJ Investment Services, gains on sale of originated mortgages, and revenue from commercial treasury services have supported growth of noninterest income.”

Second Quarter, First Half 2018 Operational Review

Total interest income was $6.73 million in the second quarter of 2018, up 15% from $5.85 million a year earlier. The primary driver of interest income growth continued to be loans. Although interest expense rose year-over-year with an increase in deposits and market driven rate increases, net interest income was up 13% to $5.80 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 compared with a year earlier. First half 2018 net interest income increased 12% compared with a year earlier.

The Company’s provision for loan losses was 29% lower in the second quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier, and 38% lower in the first half of 2018 compared with a year earlier. Chapman noted the Company believes it continues to reserve prudently for probable loan losses, consistent with loan portfolio growth. The second quarter of 2018 loan loss provision was $315,000 compared with $445,000 in the second quarter of 2017, and the loan loss provision in the first half of 2018 was $337,000, compared with $545,000 in the first half of 2017.

Net interest income after provision for loan losses in the second quarter of 2018 was $5.49 million compared with $4.70 million in the second quarter of 2017. Net interest income after provision for loan losses in the first half of 2018 was $10.80 million compared with $9.43 million a year earlier.

Commercial lending growth, stable to slightly increasing rates, and expense management contributed to a 3.74% net interest margin, with a 3.60% interest spread in the second quarter of 2018, essentially stable compared with a year earlier. The Company’s average earned rates on loans, including fees, was 4.72% in the second quarter of 2018, up from 4.57% in the second quarter of 2017. Average rates on total earning assets for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 were 4.33%, compared to 4.26% a year earlier.

J. Todd Scruggs, Executive Vice President and CFO, commented: “While we look to keep pace with prevailing market interest rates, we have not focused on squeezing a few basis points out of every rate fluctuation. Our commercial clients pay what we believe to be a fair rate, which reflects the added value they receive from our services and advisory capabilities. We feel this philosophy has been the key to maintaining strong margins and a high level of client retention.”

Growth in core interest bearing deposits and a slight decline in higher-interest time deposits enabled the Company to achieve a 0.69% average rate paid on interest bearing deposits in the second quarter of 2018, compared with 0.63% a year earlier. “Growth in relationship banking, including linked deposits, has enabled our Company to build core deposits and manage rates,” Scruggs explained. “We have tried to avoid competing for high-rate time deposit business.”

Noninterest income, including gains from the sale of residential mortgages to the secondary market, revenue growth from BOTJ Investment Services, and income from the Bank's line of treasury management services for commercial customers demonstrated strong year-over-year growth. Noninterest income rose 20% to $1.44 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 from $1.20 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, and increased 27% to $2.63 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 from $2.07 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Strong residential mortgage origination activity contributed to a pipeline of loans held for sale of $5.82 million at June 30, 2018 compared with $2.63 million at December 31, 2017, which the Company anticipates will generate gains from mortgage loan sales in the third quarter of 2018.

Chapman noted: “Mortgage lending has benefitted from trends that include strong housing demand in our markets, rising home prices, and the prospect of rising interest rates. However, we believe our ability to capture more than a fair share of market-driven activity stems from our team’s outreach, and leveraging our reputation for service, convenience, and solutions. Maintaining a customer-focused, high-touch approach to the mortgage lending process earns us business and referrals. We also focus on building banking relationships with mortgage clients, making the mortgage lending process much more than a one-time transaction.”

Income from service charges, fees and commissions, which included growing fee income from the Company’s suite of treasury services for businesses and income from BOJT Investment Services, increased to $465,000 in the second quarter of 2018 from $443,000 in the second quarter of 2017, and to $929,000 in the first half of 2018, up from $828,000 in the first half of 2017. A continuing trend of strong residential mortgage originations generated a 46% increase in gain on sales of loans in the second quarter of 2018 compared with a year earlier, and 54% year-over-year growth in the first half of 2018 compared with the first half of 2017.

Noninterest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $5.31 million compared with $4.76 million a year earlier, primarily reflecting increased personnel expenses from a larger team of producing individuals, professional expenses, and data processing expenses. This increase was partially offset by lower expenses in categories including occupancy, equipment and marketing. In the first half of 2018, noninterest expense was $10.40 million compared with $9.25 million in the first half of 2017.

“We are very encouraged to see that the productivity from our investments in quality people and selected support systems are having a definite impact on the Company’s efficiency,” noted Chapman. “In addition to the strong positive year-over-year gains in return on average assets and equity, our efficiency ratio of 73.3% for the quarter was the lowest it has been in quite some time. We continue to focus on greater efficiency, but we are pleased with the trend.”

Balance Sheet Review: Growth, Asset Quality

Total assets were a record $655.87 million, up from $626.34 million at December 31, 2017. The primary driver of asset growth continues to be loans held for investment, net of the allowance for loan losses, which totaled $523.73 million, up from $491.02 million at December 31, 2017. Loans held for sale were more than double the total at year-end 2017, reflecting the consistent growth of residential mortgage originations and positioning those loans for placement in the secondary market.

The Company’s commercial loan portfolio, primarily commercial and industrial (C&I) loans, increased 5% to $102.16 million at June 30, 2018 compared with commercial loans at June 30, 2017. Owner occupied real estate loans, led by CRE lending, increased 7% year-over-year to $155.88 million, and non-owner occupied real estate (primarily commercial and investment property) increased by 16% year-over-year to $171.57 million. Total construction lending slowed year-over-year, primarily reflecting project seasonality and a very strong 2017 for both residential and commercial real estate construction activity. Consumer loans and consumer lines of credit totals were essentially unchanged from the prior year.

Total deposits at June 30, 2018 rose to $596.07 million from $567.49 million at December 31, 2017 and $532.86 million at June 30, 2017. Noninterest bearing deposits rose to $86.76 million at June 30, 2018 from $83.96 million at March 31, 2018 and $74.10 million at December 31, 2017. Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits were $328.08 million at June 30, 2018 compared with $318.52 million at March 31, 2018 and $307.99 million at December 31, 2017. Core deposits were approximately 70% of total deposits.

Asset quality remained strong, with a nonperforming loans to total loans ratio of 0.60% at June 30, 2018, compared with 0.87% at December 31, 2017. Total nonperforming assets, inclusive of Other Real Estate Owned (OREO), declined 17% from year-end 2017 to $5.78 million. Total nonperforming loans of $3.20 million at June 30, 2018 were down 26% from $4.31 million at December 31, 2017. The Company’s allowance for loan losses was $4.69 million, with a ratio of 0.89% allowance for loan losses to total loans and a 146.7% loss allowance to nonperforming loans.

The Company grew measures of stockholder value. Total stockholders’ equity was $52.52 million at June 30, 2018, compared with $51.68 million at March 31, 2018 and $51.67 million at December 31, 2017. Retained earnings were $14.17 million, up from $12.27 million at December 31, 2017. Tangible book value per share increased to $12.00 at June 30, 2018 from $11.80 at December 31, 2017. The Bank's regulatory capital ratios continued to exceed accepted regulatory standards for a well-capitalized institution.

Chapman concluded: “The positive impact of the investments in growth is generating revenue, and supporting new and expanded relationships with customers throughout our served markets. Looking ahead to the second half of 2018, economic conditions are positive and we have a team in place that we believe will generate continued revenue and earnings growth, and with it, enhanced value for shareholders.”

About the Company

Bank of the James, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. opened for business in July 1999 and is headquartered in Lynchburg, Virginia. The bank operates 13 banking offices three limited services offices, and two loan production offices in Virginia serving Altavista, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Charlottesville, Forest, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Madison Heights, and Roanoke. The bank offers full investment and insurance services through its BOTJ Investment Services division and BOTJ Insurance, Inc. subsidiary.  The bank provides mortgage loan origination through Bank of the James Mortgage, a division of Bank of the James. Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. common stock is listed under the symbol “BOTJ” on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC.  Additional information on the Company is available at www.bankofthejames.bank.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "plan" and similar expressions and variations thereof identify certain of such forward-looking statements which speak only as of the dates on which they were made. Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. (the "Company") undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to, competition, general economic conditions, potential changes in interest rates, and changes in the value of real estate securing loans made by Bank of the James (the "Bank"), a subsidiary of the Company. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those in the forward-looking statements is contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and previously filed by the Bank (as predecessor of the Company) with the Federal Reserve Board.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOLLOW


Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data
unaudited

Selected Data:Three
months
ending
Jun 30,
2018
Three
months
ending
Jun 30,
2017
ChangeYear
to
date
Jun 30,
2018
Year
to
date
Jun 30,
2017
Change
Interest income$  6,725 $  5,851  14.94%$  12,880 $  11,360  13.38%
Interest expense 922  711  29.68% 1,746  1,382  26.34%
Net interest income 5,803  5,140  12.90% 11,134  9,978  11.59%
Provision for loan losses 315  445  (29.21%) 337  545  (38.17%)
Noninterest income 1,441  1,204  19.68% 2,627  2,065  27.22%
Noninterest expense 5,306  4,756  11.56% 10,403  9,253  12.43%
Income taxes 323  356  (9.27%) 598  698  (14.33%)
Net income 1,300  787  65.18% 2,423  1,547  56.63%
Weighted average shares
outstanding - basic
 4,378,436  4,378,436  -  4,378,436  4,378,436  - 
Weighted average shares
outstanding - diluted
 4,378,436  4,378,519  (83) 4,378,481  4,378,527  (46)
Basic net income
per share
$  0.30 $  0.18 $  0.12 $  0.55 $  0.35 $  0.20 
Fully diluted net income
per share
$  0.30 $  0.18 $  0.12 $  0.55 $  0.35 $  0.20 


Balance Sheet at
period end:
Jun 30,
2018
Dec 31,
2017
ChangeJun 30,
2017
Dec 31,
2016
Change
Loans, net$  523,730 $  491,022 6.66%$  483,248 $  464,353  4.07%
Loans held for sale 5,815  2,626 121.44% 2,514  3,833  (34.41%)
Total securities 57,394  61,025 -5.95% 52,603  44,075  19.35%
Total deposits 596,068  567,493 5.04% 532,862  523,112  1.86%
Stockholders' equity 52,524  51,665 1.66% 51,058  49,421  3.31%
Total assets 655,866  626,341 4.71% 595,637  574,195  3.73%
Shares outstanding 4,378,436  4,378,436 -  4,378,436  4,378,436  - 
Book value per share$  12.00 $  11.80 0.20 $  11.66 $  11.29 $  0.37 


Daily averages:Three
months
ending
Jun 30,
2018
Three
months
ending
Jun 30,
2017
ChangeYear
to
date
Jun 30,
2018
Year
to
date
Jun 30,
2017
Change
Loans, net$  518,972 $  471,770 10.01%$  505,794 $  468,052 8.06%
Loans held for sale 3,706  2,347 57.90% 3,076  1,871 64.40%
Total securities 60,959  54,130 12.62% 61,811  52,532 17.66%
Total deposits 597,379  530,487 12.61% 584,104  524,100 11.45%
Stockholders' equity 53,913  51,483 4.72% 53,383  51,228 4.21%
Interest earning assets 622,956  551,552 12.95% 608,485  544,693 11.71%
Interest bearing liabilities 504,581  424,884 18.76% 476,569  420,597 13.31%
Total assets 660,578  588,167 12.31% 645,290  580,404 11.18%


Financial Ratios:Three
months
ending
Jun 30,
2018
Three
months
ending
Jun 30,
2017
ChangeYear
to
date
Jun 30,
2018
Year
to
date
Jun 30,
2017
Change
Return on average assets0.79%0.54%0.25 0.76%0.54%0.22 
Return on average equity9.67%6.13%3.54 9.15%6.09%3.06 
Net interest margin3.74%3.74%- 3.69%3.70%(0.01%)
Efficiency ratio73.25%74.97%(1.72)75.60%76.83%(1.23)
Average equity to
average assets
8.16%8.75%(0.59)8.27%8.83%(0.56)


Allowance for loan losses:Three
months
ending
Jun 30,
2018
Three
months
ending
Jun 30,
2017
ChangeYear
to
date
Jun 30,
2018
Year
to
date
Jun 30,
2017
Change
Beginning balance$  4,671 $  5,716 (18.28%)$  4,752 $  5,716 (16.86%)
Provision for losses 315  445 (29.21%) 337  545 (38.17%)
Charge-offs (315) (96)227.08% (555) (226)145.13%
Recoveries 17  67 (74.63%) 154  97 58.76%
Ending balance 4,688  6,132 (23.53%) 4,688  6,132 (23.53%)


Nonperforming assets:Jun 30,
2018
Dec 31,
2017
ChangeJun 30,
2017
Dec 31,
2016
Change
Total nonperforming loans$  3,195 $  4,308 (25.84%)$  2,649 $  2,550 3.88%
Other real estate owned 2,585  2,650 (2.45%) 2,775  2,370 17.09%
Total nonperforming assets 5,780  6,958 (16.93%) 5,424  4,920 10.24%
Troubled debt restructurings - (performing portion) 432  440 (1.82%) 448  455 (1.54%)
       
       
Asset quality ratios:Jun 30,
2018
Dec 31,
2017
ChangeJun 30,
2017
Dec 31,
2016
Change
Nonperforming loans to
total loans
 0.60% 0.87%(0.27) 0.54% 0.54%(0.00)
Allowance for loan losses
to total loans
 0.89% 0.96%(0.07) 1.25% 1.22%0.03 
Allowance for loan losses
to nonperforming loans
 146.73% 110.31%36.42  231.48% 224.16%7.32 


        
Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
(unaudited)
        
 For the Three Months For the Six Months
 Ended June 30, Ended June 30,
Interest Income2018 2017 2018 2017
Loans$6,195 $5,465 $11,869 $10,653
Securities 
US Government and agency obligations 186  121  384  234
Mortgage backed securities 66  77  134  143
Municipals 83  90  165  170
Dividends 23  28  31  35
Other (Corporates) 24  30  47  57
Interest bearing deposits 56  17  91  32
Federal Funds sold 92  23  159  36
Total interest income 6,725  5,851  12,880  11,360
            
  
Interest Expense 
Deposits 
NOW, money market savings 231  175  423  344
Time Deposits 543  425  1,044  827
FHLB borrowings 16  -  17  -
Brokered time deposits 82  61  162  124
Capital notes 50  50  100  87
Total interest expense 922  711  1,746  1,382
            
Net interest income 5,803  5,140  11,134  9,978
            
Provision for loan losses 315  445  337  545
            
Net interest income after provision for loan losses 5,488  4,695  10,797  9,433
            
  
Noninterest income 
Gains on sale of loans held for sale 873  598  1,493  969
Service charges, fees and commissions 465  443  929  828
Increase in cash value of life insurance 85  87  170  173
Other 18  24  35  33
Gain on sales of available-for-sale securities -  52  -  62
            
Total noninterest income 1,441  1,254  2,627  2,065
  
Noninterest expenses 
Salaries and employee benefits 2,832  2,396  5,545  4,776
Occupancy 360  365  755  737
Equipment 398  438  777  786
Supplies 140  123  289  257
Professional, data processing, and other outside expense 837  697  1,652  1,377
Marketing 187  236  327  384
Credit expense 112  137  237  231
Other real estate expenses 86  24  126  36
FDIC insurance expense 99  88  200  191
Other 255  252  495  478
Total noninterest expenses 5,306  4,756  10,403  9,253
            
Income before income taxes 1,623  1,143  3,021  2,245
            
Income tax expense 323  356  598  698
            
Net Income$1,300 $787 $2,423 $1,547
            
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 4,378,436  4,378,436  4,378,436  4,378,436
            
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 4,378,436  4,378,519  4,378,481  4,378,527
            
Net income per common share - basic$0.30 $0.18 $0.55 $0.35
            
Net income per common share - diluted$0.30 $0.18 $0.55 $0.35
            

 

     
Bank of the James Financial Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
     
 (unaudited)   
Assets6/30/2018  12/31/2017
        
Cash and due from banks$25,717  $20,267 
Federal funds sold 8,132   16,751 
Total cash and cash equivalents 33,849   37,018 
        
Securities held-to-maturity (fair value of $3,448 in 2018 and $5,619 in 2017) 3,706   5,713 
        
Securities available-for-sale, at fair value 53,688   55,312 
Restricted stock, at cost 1,462   1,505 
        
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $4,688 in 2018 and $4,752 in 2017 523,730   491,022 
Loans held for sale 5,815   2,626 
Premises and equipment, net 11,877   11,890 
Software, net 118   165 
Interest receivable 1,755   1,713 
        
Cash value - bank owned life insurance 13,188   13,018 
Other real estate owned 2,585   2,650 
Income taxes receivable 1,339   1,366 
Deferred tax asset 1,695   1,418 
Other assets 1,059   925 
Total assets$655,866  $626,341 
        
        
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity       
        
Deposits       
Noninterest bearing demand 86,757   74,102 
NOW, money market and savings 328,082   307,987 
Time 181,229   185,404 
Total deposits 596,068   567,493 
        
Capital notes 5,000   5,000 
Interest payable 107   111 
Other liabilities 2,167   2,072 
Total liabilities$603,342  $574,676 
        
 
Stockholders' equity 
  
Common stock $2.14 par value; authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 4,378,436 as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 9,370   9,370 
Additional paid-in-capital 31,495   31,495 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) (2,508)  (1,469)
Retained earnings 14,167   12,269 
Total stockholders' equity$52,524  $51,665 
        
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$655,866  $626,341 
        

 


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