Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2022 Earnings

YORK, Pa., Jan. 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc. (“Codorus Valley”, or the “Corporation”) (NASDAQ: CVLY), parent company of PeoplesBank, A Codorus Valley Company (“PeoplesBank”, or the “Bank”), today reported net income of $7.9 million or $0.83 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2022. This compares to net income of $7.2 million or $0.75 per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2022, representing an increase of $0.7 million or 10.9 percent and net income of $2.7 million or $0.28 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2021. For the year ended December 31, 2022, net income was $20.1 million or $2.10 per diluted common share, compared to $14.7 million or $1.50 per diluted common share, for the year ended December 31, 2021.  

Financial and operational highlights include:

• Fourth quarter net income of $7.9 million compared to net income of $2.7 million in the year-ago quarter and $7.2 million in the linked quarter
• Linked quarter 32 basis point increase in net interest margin to 3.98 percent, and 123 basis point increase from the quarter ended December 31, 2021
• Fourth quarter efficiency ratio of 60.9 percent
• Continued improvement in credit metrics with nonperforming assets to total loans and foreclosed real estate falling to 0.70 percent of total assets
• Cash dividend of $0.16 per share payable on or before February 14, 2023, to common shareholders of record on January 24, 2023
  

“In the fourth quarter, the PeoplesBank team continued to focus on improving future performance and increasing shareholder value. Growth in our core business, improved asset quality, improved net interest margin, and the implementation of new technology and new processes to improve efficiency, allowed the Corporation to experience strong net income growth. Due to our focus on performance, we were able to declare a $0.16 per share cash dividend, a one cent increase over the dividend paid in each of the four prior quarters,” stated Craig L. Kauffman, President and CEO.

REVIEW OF RESULTS

Balance Sheet

Loans

Loans, which include SBA-backed Paycheck Protection Program loans (“SBA PPP loans”), increased $103.1 million from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, or 6.3 percent as the impact of net commercial loan growth outpaced SBA PPP loan forgiveness. Excluding SBA PPP loans, total loans increased $130.8 million from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, or 8.0 percent. SBA PPP loans, net of deferred fees and costs, declined by $27.7 million to zero at December 31, 2022 due to forgiveness activity.

Non-accrual loans decreased $22.6 million, or 67.3 percent to $11.0 million from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022 as a result of the Bank’s continued focus on improving asset quality.

Investment Securities

Investment Securities increased $90.8 million to $346.4 million at December 31, 2022 compared to $255.6 million at December 31, 2021, as the Bank deployed excess liquidity through selective purchases of mortgage-backed, corporate and municipal securities.

Deposits

Total Deposits decreased $200.6 million, or 9.4 percent from December 31, 2021 to December 31, 2022, ending the period at $1.9 billion, in part due to the Bank’s decision to strategically change its product emphasis away from higher cost certificates of deposit funding.   From year end 2021 to year end 2022, certificates of deposit decreased by $79.6 million or 17.2 percent. In addition, noninterest-bearing demand accounts decreased $60.8 million or 11.6 percent and money market accounts decreased by $97.5 million or 13.1 percent. Offsetting the decreases was a $27.3 million or 10.4 percent increase in interest bearing checking accounts and a $10.0 million or 6.6 percent increase in savings accounts.

Income Statement

The Corporation’s net interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2022 was $21.5 million, an increase of 37.0 percent when compared to $15.7 million for the same period in 2021 and an increase of 5.5 percent when compared to $20.4 million for the linked quarter.   The Corporation’s tax-equivalent net interest margin (“NIM”) was 3.98 percent for the three months ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2.75 percent for the same period in 2021 and 3.66 percent for the linked quarter. Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $75.3 million, an increase of 21.2 percent when compared to $62.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Corporation’s tax-equivalent NIM was 3.39 percent for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 2.87 percent for the year ended December 31, 2021.

For the three months ended December 31, 2022 the Corporation realized a recovery of the provision for loan losses of $544,000 compared to a provision for loan losses of $1.7 million for the same period in 2021 and a recovery of the provision for loan losses of $567,000 for the linked quarter.   The decreased, or negative, provision was primarily the result of improving credit metrics and a reduction in the historical loss factor. The provision for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $2.9 million compared to $3.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.   The Corporation’s nonperforming assets ratio was 0.70 percent at December 31, 2022, a 68.5 percent decrease from the nonperforming assets ratio of 2.22 percent at December 31, 2021.   

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter 2022 was $3.5 million, a decrease of $1.0 million or 22.4 percent, as compared to noninterest income of $4.5 million for the fourth quarter 2021 and a decrease of $141,000 or 3.9 percent as compared to the linked quarter.   The decrease in both periods was primarily due to lower gains on sales of mortgage loans recognized during the current quarter. Noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $14.9 million, a decrease of $1.5 million, as compared to noninterest income of $16.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The year-to-date decrease was primarily due to lower gains on sales of mortgage loans, offset by a loss on the write down of assets held for sale in the prior year.

Noninterest expense was $15.3 million for the fourth quarter 2022, an increase of $277,000 or 1.8 percent, as compared to noninterest expense of $15.1 million for the fourth quarter 2021 and an increase of $25,000 compared to noninterest expense of $15.3 million for the linked quarter.   Higher personnel expense was the primary driver of the increase compared to the prior year.   Noninterest expense was $61.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, an increase of $5.4 million or 9.5 percent, as compared to noninterest expense of $56.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Personnel expense, professional/legal expense and miscellaneous expense were the primary drivers of the increase between the two periods.

Income tax expense for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 was $2.2 million compared to $639,000 for the same period in 2021 and $2.1 million in the linked quarter. The effective tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022 was 21.7 percent, 19.2 and 22.3 percent, respectively. Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $5.6 million compared to $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was 21.7 and 21.1, respectively.

Dividend Declared

On January 10, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Corporation declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share, payable on or before February 14, 2023 to common shareholders of record at the close of business on January 24, 2023. The payment of this $0.16 per share cash dividend in the first quarter 2023 is an increase of $0.01 compared to the cash dividend paid in the prior four quarters.

Business Lines

Commercial banking renewed its focus on specific industries by reorganizing to more effectively dedicate associates to specific business and geographic areas. This is intended to position the Bank for growth by enhancing coordination and leadership support within specific markets, allowing us to continue our focus on a few specialty business areas where PeoplesBank has expertise, and growing talent by supporting the career development of existing team members and attracting additional qualified bankers in our markets.

Business and Consumer marketing efforts continue to focus on supporting strategic goals, combining traditional and digital marketing channels to reach prospective clients in our business area. In the fourth quarter of 2022, online traffic was up over 20% compared to a year earlier, and the number of new users to the PeoplesBank website was up over 22% compared to the prior year.

The Bank’s East York Financial Center completed its upgrade to a PeoplesBank Connections Center in the fourth quarter of 2022, and retail and business clients can now enjoy an enhanced environment to discuss how PeoplesBank can help them to achieve their business and personal goals, conduct business and learn more about PeoplesBank products and services.

During the fourth quarter of 2022, we continued our efforts to deliver services to clients in the mode and locations that best serve their needs. With that ongoing focus on rationalizing our delivery platform to best serve clients, we closed our Glen Rock financial center as clients continued to prefer to transact via digital platforms and in neighboring PeoplesBank financial centers that offered drive-thru capabilities. A full service ATM was installed at the Glen Rock location. The building, which also housed the Glen Rock Borough office and the Glen Rock Historical Preservation Society, became part of the National Register of Historical Places in 1997. In appreciation for the Borough of Glen Rock and the community’s role in the origin and growth of PeoplesBank dating back to 1864, the Bank donated the building to Glen Rock Borough, which plans to use the building to conduct borough meetings and expand the Glen Rock Historical Preservation Society’s museum.

Rising rates and a softening of the housing market resulted in lower than expected mortgage loan originations and sales for the Mortgage Banking Division. Despite the muted activity, the Bank was able to utilize niche products such as our Physician’s Preferred Mortgage and a first-time homebuyer program assisting clients with down payments to expand our mortgage portfolio. Adjustable rate mortgage activity also accelerated as the mortgage portfolio grew by a net $31 million or 30% during 2022.

About Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc.
Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc. is the largest independent financial services holding company headquartered in York, Pennsylvania. Codorus Valley primarily operates through its financial services subsidiary, PeoplesBank, A Codorus Valley Company. PeoplesBank offers a full range of consumer, business, wealth management, and mortgage services at financial centers located in communities throughout South Central Pennsylvania and Central Maryland. Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc.’s Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “CVLY”.

Forward-looking Statements
This Press Release may contain forward-looking statements by Codorus Valley Bancorp, Inc. (the “Corporation”). Forward-looking statements may include information concerning the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions relating to the Corporation and its operations. These forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Corporation’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Corporation’s control). Forward-looking statements may also include, but are not limited to, discussions of strategy, financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, goals, expectations or consequences, and statements about future performance, expenses, operations, or products and services of the Corporation and its subsidiaries. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “should,” “will,” “could,” “believes,” “plans,” “expects,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “strives to,” “seeks,” ”intends,” “anticipates” or similar words or expressions.

Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, nor should they be relied upon as providing assurance of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the Corporation’s business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Corporation’s control. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated in forward-looking statements due to, among others, the following factors: general economic conditions; the scope and duration of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on the Corporation’s credit quality and operations as well as its impact on general economic conditions; legislative and regulatory changes including actions taken by governmental authorities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; the effects of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters; changes in market interest rates; the persistence of the current inflationary environment in the U.S. and our market areas; the uncertain impact of new laws and regulations; ineffectiveness of the Corporation’s business strategy due to changes in the current or future market conditions; changes in deposit flows, the cost of funds, demand for loan products and the demand for financial services, in each case as may be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; competition; market volatility, market downturns, changes in consumer behavior, business closures; adverse changes in the quality or composition of the Corporation’s loan, investment and mortgage-backed securities portfolios; geographic concentration of the Corporation’s business; fluctuations in real estate values; the adequacy of loan loss reserves; deterioration in the credit quality of borrowers; the Company’s ability to retain key personnel; failure or disruption of the Corporation’s information systems; failure or circumvention of our internal controls; changes in government regulation and supervision; occurrence of natural or man-made disasters or calamities, including health emergencies, the spread of infectious diseases, epidemics or pandemics, an outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other geopolitical instabilities, the effects of climate change or extraordinary events beyond the Corporation's control, and the Corporation’s ability to deal effectively with disruptions caused by the foregoing; and other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting the Corporation’s operations, markets, products, services and fees.

A discussion of certain risks and uncertainties affecting the Corporation can also be found in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in its 2022 Form 10-Qs, which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or in the Investor Relations section of the Corporation’s website at www.peoplesbanknet.com. We include web addresses here as inactive textual references only. The Corporation does not commit to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Corporation to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Accounting standards require the consideration of subsequent events occurring after the balance sheet date for matters that require adjustment to, or disclosure in, the consolidated financial statements. The review period for subsequent events extends up to and includes the filing date of a public company’s financial statements when filed with the SEC. Accordingly, the consolidated financial information in this announcement is subject to change.

The Corporation uses certain non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial measures in this Press Release. The Company’s management believes that the supplemental non-GAAP information provided in this press release is utilized by market analysts and others to evaluate the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations and, therefore, such information is useful to investors. These measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered a substitute for analysis of results under GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures are reconciled to the most comparable measures following the “Financial Highlights” section of this press release.

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