BCB Bancorp, Inc. Announces Plan to Adopt a New Stock Repurchase Program

Rhea-AI Summary

BCB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCBP) announced a new stock repurchase program following the completion of its previous buyback of 500,000 shares. The new program aims to enhance long-term shareholder value. CEO Thomas Coughlin conveyed optimism about the company's stock attractiveness, asserting that share repurchases signify confidence in future growth. The extent and timing of purchases will depend on market conditions and the company's financial performance.

Positive

• New stock repurchase program signals confidence in future growth.
• Previous buyback of 500,000 shares demonstrates commitment to shareholder value.

Negative

• None.

BAYONNE, N.J., Oct. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BCB Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”), (NASDAQ: BCBP), the holding company for BCB Community Bank, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved the adoption of a new stock repurchase program, to be effective at a to-be-determined time. The Company’s Board of Directors plans to consult with its financial advisors and determine the total number of shares to be repurchased under the program.

Under the stock repurchase program as adopted on February 29, 2020, the Company was authorized to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. All of those 500,000 shares were repurchased prior to July 1, 2020.

“We still believe our stock is an attractive investment and that repurchasing stock affirms our optimism for the future and offers an excellent means to build long-term value for our shareholders,” stated Thomas Coughlin, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Therefore, we plan to implement a new stock repurchase program in an amount to be determined after discussions with our financial advisors.”

Once the new program is implemented, the extent to which the Company repurchases its shares of common stock and the timing of such purchases will be determined at the Company’s discretion at prices the Company considers attractive and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, trading price, alternate uses for capital and the Company’s financial performance.

About BCB Bancorp, Inc.

Established in 2000 and headquartered in Bayonne, N.J., BCB Community Bank is the wholly-owned subsidiary of BCB Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: BCBP). The Bank has 31 branch offices in Bayonne, Carteret, Colonia, Edison, Hoboken, Fairfield, Holmdel, Jersey City, Lodi, Lyndhurst, Maplewood, Monroe Township, Newark, Parsippany, Plainsboro, River Edge, Rutherford, South Orange, Union, and Woodbridge, New Jersey, and three branches in Hicksville and Staten Island, New York. The Bank provides businesses and individuals a wide range of loans, deposit products, and retail and commercial banking services. For more information, please go to www.bcb.bank.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release, like many written and oral communications presented by BCB Bancorp, Inc., and our authorized officers, may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding our prospective performance and strategies within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for purposes of said safe harbor provisions. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe future plans, strategies, and expectations of the Company, are generally identified by use of words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “seek,” “strive,” “try,” or future or conditional verbs such as “could,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions. Our ability to predict results or the actual effects of our plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

In addition to factors previously disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and those identified elsewhere in this release, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: changes in asset quality and credit risk; the inability to sustain revenue and earnings growth; changes in interest rates and capital markets; inflation; customer acceptance of the Bank’s products and services; customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices; customer disintermediation; the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives; competitive conditions; the inability to realize cost savings or revenues or to implement integration plans and other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; economic conditions; and the impact, extent and timing of technological changes, capital management activities, and actions of governmental agencies and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms.

As the result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related adverse local and national economic consequences, the Company could be subject to any of the following additional risks, any of which could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations:

• demand for our products and services may decline, making it difficult to grow assets and income;
• if the economy is unable to substantially reopen, and high levels of unemployment continue for an extended period of time, loan delinquencies, problem assets, and foreclosures may increase, resulting in increased charges and reduced income;
• collateral for loans, especially real estate, may decline in value, which could cause loan losses to increase;
• our allowance for loan losses may have to be increased if borrowers experience financial difficulties beyond forbearance periods, which will adversely affect our net income;
• the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to us;
• as the result of the decline in the Federal Reserve Board’s target federal funds rate to near 0%, the yield on our assets may decline to a greater extent than the decline in our cost of interest-bearing liabilities, reducing our net interest margin and spread and reducing net income;
• a material decrease in net income over several quarters could result in a decrease in the rate of our quarterly cash dividend;
• our cyber security risks are increased as the result of an increase in the number of employees working remotely;
• we rely on third party vendors for certain services and the unavailability of a critical service due to the COVID-19 outbreak could have an adverse effect on us;
• FDIC premiums may increase if the agency experiences additional resolution costs; and
• civil unrest could occur in the communities that the Company serves.
  

Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purpose only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results.

Contact:	Thomas Coughlin,
	President & CEO
	Thomas Keating, CFO
	(201) 823-0700

FAQ

What is the purpose of the new stock repurchase program by BCB Bancorp?

The new stock repurchase program aims to enhance long-term shareholder value and reflects the company's confidence in its stock.

How many shares has BCB Bancorp previously repurchased?

BCB Bancorp previously repurchased 500,000 shares under its previous stock repurchase program.

When will the new stock repurchase program by BCB Bancorp take effect?

The new stock repurchase program will be effective at a to-be-determined time.

How does the new stock repurchase program affect BCB Bancorp's stock price?

The new stock repurchase program is expected to positively influence BCB Bancorp's stock price by signaling confidence in the company's future performance.