Bankwell Financial Group Reports Record Operating Results for the Second Quarter; Increases Dividend by 29%

Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:BWFG) reported record GAAP net income of $6.2 million, or $0.79 per share, for the second quarter of 2021, versus $1.2 million, or $0.16 per share, for the same period in 2020.

The Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.18 per share cash dividend, payable August 26, 2021 to shareholders of record on August 16, 2021, representing a 29% increase when compared to the prior quarter’s dividend.

We recommend reading this earnings release in conjunction with the Second Quarter 2021 Investor Presentation, located at http://investor.mybankwell.com/Presentations and included as an exhibit to our July 28, 2021 Current Report on Form 8-K.

Notes Bankwell Financial Group President and CEO, Christopher R. Gruseke:

"I’d like to congratulate the entire Bankwell team for an outstanding job, not just this quarter, but over the last eighteen months. Not only have we navigated the challenges brought about by the global health crisis, but we are emerging from, what we hope to be, the closing stages of the pandemic as a stronger, more robust bank. Excluding PPP loans, we have grown our loan book 5% for the quarter and 9% year to date. We continue to improve our deposit structure and cost, growing non-interest bearing deposits by 17% on a linked quarter basis, and increasing the quarterly net interest margin to 3.12%. We expect to see further improvement in the NIM as 2021 progresses. Consistent with the Company’s focus on improving its deposit base, we’ve just completed the conversion of our online banking product to offer a more robust and more competitive solution. We expect this added capability to help us further grow our business deposit franchise. Credit quality continues to improve. Any COVID impacted loans carry specific reserves or are well collateralized, and we expect these loans to return to accrual status over the coming quarters.

"Confident in our earnings outlook, Bankwell’s Board has just approved a 29% increase in our quarterly dividend to $0.18 per share. We look forward to a strong finish to 2021 and are planning substantial growth and profitability in 2022."

Second Quarter 2021 Highlights:

• Return on average assets was 1.11% and return on average equity was 13.06% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
• The net interest margin improved to 3.12% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
• The efficiency ratio improved to 55.7% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
• Total gross loans were $1.7 billion, growing $139.8 million, or 8.8%, compared to December 31, 2020, excluding Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans.
• Resumption of SBA loan sales with gains of $0.8 million compared to no sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.
• Total deposits were $1.9 billion compared to $1.8 billion at December 31, 2020.
• Noninterest bearing deposits increased by $58.2 million, or 21.6% compared to December 31, 2020.
• The cost of interest bearing deposits decreased approximately 64 basis points to 0.68% when compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2020.
• Investment securities totaled $109.3 million and represent 4.8% of total assets.
• Tangible book value per share rose to $24.40 compared to $22.43 at December 31, 2020.
• Shares issued and outstanding were 7,895,101, reflecting repurchases of 13,529 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $27.44 during the quarter ended June 30, 2021.
• Repaid $10.0 million of subordinated debt on May 15, 2021.

Earnings and Performance

Revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 were $18.0 million, versus $14.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2021 were $34.6 million, versus $28.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to lower interest expense on deposits and from the resumption of SBA loan sales. Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2021 also benefited from a one-time federal payroll tax credit for COVID-19 of $0.9 million.

Net income for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 was $6.2 million, versus $1.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $11.9 million, versus $2.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in net income was primarily impacted by the aforementioned increases in revenues and a decrease in the provision for loan losses resulting from the absence of elevated reserves recognized in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and improving economic trends in 2021.

Basic and diluted earnings per share were each $0.79 for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.16 each for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.51 and $1.50, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.33 each for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

The net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent basis) for the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 was 3.12% and 2.81%, respectively. The net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent basis) for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2020 was 2.93% and 2.89%, respectively. The increase in the net interest margin was due to a decrease in rates on interest bearing deposits and a greater percentage of noninterest bearing deposits, partially offset by excess liquidity.

Financial Condition

Assets totaled $2.27 billion at June 30, 2021, compared to assets of $2.25 billion at December 31, 2020. The change in assets remained relatively flat as the increase in loans were offset by a decrease in excess liquidity. Gross loans totaled $1.7 billion at June 30, 2021, an increase of $112.9 million compared to December 31, 2020. Excluding PPP loans, gross loans increased by $139.8 million at June 30, 2021 when compared to December 31, 2020. Deposits totaled $1.9 billion at June 30, 2021, compared to deposits of $1.8 billion at December 31, 2020.

Capital

Shareholders’ equity totaled $190.8 million as of June 30, 2021, an increase of $14.2 million compared to December 31, 2020, primarily a result of (i) net income of $11.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 and (ii) a $5.4 million favorable impact to accumulated other comprehensive income driven by fair value marks related to hedge positions involving interest rate swaps. The Company's interest rate swaps are used to hedge interest rate risk. The Company's current interest rate swap positions will cause a decrease to other comprehensive income in a falling interest rate environment and an increase in a rising interest rate environment. The increase in Shareholders’ equity was partially offset by dividends paid of $2.2 million and common stock repurchases of $1.8 million.

About Bankwell Financial Group

Bankwell is a commercial bank that serves the banking needs of residents and businesses throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut.

For more information, visit www.mybankwell.com.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements about the Company. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding anticipated future events and can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “intend” or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include, but are not limited to, increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, general economic conditions or conditions within the securities markets, uncertain impacts of, or additional changes in, monetary, fiscal or tax policy to address the impact of COVID-19, prolonged measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 or premature easing of such containment measures, either of which could further exacerbate the effects on the Company’s business and results of operations, and legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business in which the Company and its subsidiaries are engaged.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to evaluating the Company's financial performance in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), management may evaluate certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as the efficiency ratio. A computation and reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures used for these purposes is contained in the accompanying Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures tables. We believe that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, our performance trends and financial position. For example, the Company believes that the efficiency ratio is useful in the assessment of financial performance, including noninterest expense control. The Company believes that tangible common equity and tangible book value per share are useful to evaluate the relative strength of the Company's capital position. We utilize these measures for internal planning and forecasting purposes. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

Net loan charge-offs totaled $3.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and primarily consisted of previously reserved commercial real estate exposure.

Total nonaccrual loans declined $6.1 million to $27.3 million as of June 30, 2021 when compared to December 31, 2020 partially a result of the charge-offs described above. The Bank continues work-out activity on its nonaccrual loan population. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets was 1.20% at June 30, 2021, down from 1.48% at December 31, 2020. The allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2021 was $16.7 million, representing 0.96% of total loans.

Gross loans totaled $1.7 billion at June 30, 2021, an increase of $112.9 million compared to December 31, 2020. Excluding PPP loans, gross loans increased by $139.8 million, or 8.8%, at June 30, 2021 when compared to December 31, 2020.

Total deposits were $1.9 billion at June 30, 2021, compared to $1.8 billion at December 31, 2020, an increase of $112.0 million, or 6.1%.

Noninterest income increased by $0.9 million to $1.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2020. Noninterest income increased by $1.7 million to $3.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020.

The increase in noninterest income was driven by resumed SBA loan sales, totaling $0.8 million and $1.3 million for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. In addition, the increase in noninterest income for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was impacted by a one-time federal payroll tax credit for COVID-19 of $0.9 million.

Noninterest expense increased by $0.3 million to $10.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2020. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily driven by an increase in occupancy and equipment expense and data processing expense, partially offset by a decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense.

Noninterest expense increased by $0.3 million to $19.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2020. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily driven by an increase in occupancy and equipment expense, FDIC insurance expense, and data processing expense, partially offset by a decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2021 noninterest expense included $0.8 million of non-recurring items relating to office consolidation expenses ($0.4 million), COVID-19 cleaning protocols ($0.3 million) and the implementation of new online banking software ($0.1 million). See below for more information on what specific areas of non-interest expense were impacted by these non-recurring items.

Occupancy and equipment expense totaled $3.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $1.0 million when compared to the same period in 2020. Occupancy and equipment expense totaled $5.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $1.5 million when compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in occupancy and equipment expense was primarily due to additional one-time charges of $0.4 million associated with office consolidation activity (previously disclosed in the fourth quarter of 2020) and an increase in lease expense resulting from the commencement of the lease on the Company's new headquarters building. In addition, the increase in occupancy and equipment expense for the six months ended June 30, 2021 was due to additional cleaning costs associated with precautions taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The additional cleaning protocols have been curtailed as of June 30, 2021.

Data processing expense totaled $0.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $0.3 million when compared to the same period in 2020. Data processing expense totaled $1.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $0.3 million when compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in data processing expense was primarily due to $0.4 million in costs associated with the conversion to a new online banking system implemented in the second quarter of 2021.

FDIC insurance expense totaled $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $0.4 million when compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in FDIC insurance expense was due to the absence of available FDIC insurance credits recognized in the first quarter of 2020 and elevated expense due to liquidity driven balance sheet growth in 2021.

Salaries and employee benefits expense totaled $4.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of $1.3 million when compared to the same period in 2020. Salaries and employee benefits expense totaled $8.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021, a decrease of $1.9 million when compared to the same period in 2020. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense was primarily driven by a decrease in full time equivalent employees as a direct result of the Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Plan offered to eligible employees and other employee actions taken during the fourth quarter of 2020. Full time equivalent employees totaled 125 at June 30, 2021 compared to 152 for the same period in 2020. Average full time equivalent employees totaled 124 for the six months ended June 30, 2021 compared to 154 for the same period in 2020. Salaries and employee benefits expense was also favorably impacted as higher loan originations enabled the bank to defer a greater amount of expenses. Finally, salaries and employee benefits expense also benefited by a one-time deferral of $0.3 million in costs associated with a new online banking system implemented in the second quarter of 2021, partially offsetting the increase in data processing expenses relating to the same project described above.