Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. Reports Earnings of $6,075,845 or $2.00 Per Common Share for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

Rhea-AI Summary

Farmers and Merchants Bancshares reported a net income of $6,075,845 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, down from $6,184,341 in 2021. Earnings per share decreased to $2.00 from $2.05.

Net interest income rose due to a $24.9 million increase in average interest-earning assets. However, noninterest income fell by $362,546, impacted by reduced mortgage banking revenue. Total assets remained stable at $717 million, with loans rising to $505 million. Market value declines in the AFS investment portfolio caused book value per share to decrease to $15.01.

Positive

• Return on average equity increased to 15.53% from 15.17% year-over-year.
• Loan portfolio growth rate was 6.4% annualized, exceeding expectations.
• Net interest income increased by $720,061 due to higher average interest-earning assets.

Negative

• Net income declined 1.8% from 2021 for the nine-month period.
• Noninterest income decreased by $362,546, primarily due to a drop in mortgage banking revenue.
• Book value per share fell to $15.01 from $18.64 due to unrealized losses in the AFS investment portfolio.

HAMPSTEAD, Md., Oct. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), the parent of Farmers and Merchants Bank (the “Bank”), announced that net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $6,075,845, or $2.00 per common share (basic and diluted), compared to $6,184,341, or $2.05 per common share (basic and diluted), for the same period in 2021. The Company’s return on average equity during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was 15.53% compared to 15.17% for the same period in 2021. The Company’s return on average assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was 1.14% compared to 1.18% for the same period in 2021. Income from Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans added approximately $181,000 to net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $679,000 for the same period in 2021.

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2022 was $1,974,310, or $0.65 per common share (basic and diluted), compared to $2,122,547, or $0.70 per common share, for the third quarter of 2021.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was $720,061 higher than for the same period in 2021 due to a $24.9 million increase in average interest earning assets to $682.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to $657.7 million for the same period in 2021, and an increase in the taxable equivalent net yield on average net interest earning assets to 3.51% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from 3.50% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The taxable equivalent yield on total average interest-earning assets decreased 13 basis points to 3.81% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from 3.94% for the same period in 2021. This decrease was offset by a 17 basis point decrease in the cost of deposits and borrowings to 0.39% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from 0.56% for the same period in 2021. There was a $95,000 provision for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $430,000 for the same period in 2021.

Noninterest income decreased by $362,546 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021 primarily as a result of a $508,575 decrease in mortgage banking revenue reflecting a decline in refinances due to rising interest rates, offset by a $151,206 increase in the gain on sale of SBA loans. Noninterest expense was $783,490 higher in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021 due primarily to a $357,718 increase in salaries and benefits and a $428,200 increase in other expenses. The increase in salaries and benefits was due to normal annual salary increases as well as the hiring of several new employees. The increase in other expenses was due primarily to third party fees related to the hiring of new employees. Income taxes increased by $17,521 during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 when compared to the same period in 2021 due to a decrease in the amount of nontaxable income included in pretax income year-over-year. The effective tax rate increased to 22.65% during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to 22.17% during the same period last year.

Total assets were $717 million at both September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. Loans increased to $505 million at September 30, 2022 from $482 million at December 31, 2021 despite a $9 million decrease in PPP loans. Investments in debt securities decreased to $149 million at September 30, 2022 from $171 million at December 31, 2021 due primarily to a $24 million increase in the unrealized loss on available for sale (“AFS”) securities. Deposits increased to $639 million at September 30, 2022 from $626 million at December 31, 2021. Despite the Company’s strong earnings, the book value of the Company’s common stock decreased to $15.01 per share at September 30, 2022, compared to $18.64 per share at December 31, 2021 due to the decline in the market value of the Company’s AFS investment portfolio as a result of the significant rise in interest rates over the last nine months. Changes in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio, net of income taxes, are reflected in the Company’s equity but are not included in the income statement. Because the Company has the intent and ability to hold the investments to maturity, no actual losses in the AFS investment portfolio are anticipated and the declines in market value are considered temporary. The decline in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio did not have an impact on regulatory capital because the Bank elected many years ago to not include in the calculation of regulatory capital changes in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio regardless of whether they are positive or negative.

James R. Bosley, Jr., CEO, commented “Year to date net income has been very strong and well above our budget, however, increasing rates on deposits may negatively impact fourth quarter earnings. We are pleased with our loan portfolio annualized growth rate of 6.4% - it is exceeding our expectations for 2022 and should have a positive impact on earnings in 2023 and beyond.”

About the Company

The Company is a financial holding company and the parent of the Bank. The Bank was chartered in Maryland in 1919 and has over 100 years of service to the community. The Bank serves the deposit and financing needs of both consumers and businesses in Carroll and Baltimore Counties along the Route 30, Route 795, Route 140, and Route 26 corridors. The main office is located in Upperco, Maryland, with seven additional branches in Owings Mills, Hampstead, Greenmount, Reisterstown, Westminster, and Eldersburg. Certain broker-dealers make a market in the common stock of Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc., and trades are reported through the OTC Markets Group’s Pink Market under the symbol “FMFG”.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) based on management's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. These statements are evidenced by terms such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “should,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” and similar expressions. Although these statements reflect management’s good faith beliefs and projections, they are not guarantees of future performance and they may not prove true. These projections involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, see the section of the periodic reports filed by Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission entitled “Risk Factors”.

Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

	September 30,				December 31,
		2022				2021
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	14,495,448			$	25,258,932
Federal funds sold and other interest-bearing deposits		1,536,296				1,203,174
Cash and cash equivalents		16,031,744				26,462,106
Certificates of deposit in other banks		100,000				350,000
Securities available for sale, at fair value		128,614,033				149,237,916
Securities held to maturity, at cost		20,537,254				21,851,975
Equity security, at fair value		486,237				543,605
Restricted stock, at cost		695,000				675,400
Mortgage loans held for sale		370,000				126,500
Loans, less allowance for loan losses of $3,747,178 and $3,650,268		505,395,375				482,011,334
Premises and equipment, net		6,316,605				6,259,421
Accrued interest receivable		1,600,382				1,609,063
Deferred income taxes, net		8,347,805				2,177,450
Other real estate owned, net		1,242,365				1,242,365
Bank owned life insurance		14,535,898				11,556,163
Goodwill and other intangibles, net		7,044,834				7,051,080
Other assets		5,662,828				5,522,877
	$	716,980,360			$	716,677,255
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Deposits
Noninterest-bearing	$	131,269,680			$	124,175,615
Interest-bearing		507,700,154				502,239,055
Total deposits		638,969,834				626,414,670
Securities sold under repurchase agreements		5,422,642				5,414,026
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta advances		5,000,000				5,000,000
Long-term debt, net of issuance costs		15,566,458				16,978,905
Accrued interest payable		260,266				295,910
Other liabilities		5,918,252				5,952,286
		671,137,452				660,055,797
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, par value $.01 per share,
authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
3,053,487 in 2022 and 3,037,137 shares in 2021		30,535				30,372
Additional paid-in capital		29,197,340				28,857,422
Retained earnings		34,263,001				29,128,600
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(17,647,968	)			(1,394,936	)
		45,842,908				56,621,458
	$	716,980,360			$	716,677,255

Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2022			2021			2022			2021
Interest income
Loans, including fees	$	5,606,913		$	6,059,709		$	16,660,625		$	17,828,026
Investment securities - taxable		783,606			426,886			2,170,154			967,841
Investment securities - tax exempt		140,185			149,375			430,495			462,361
Federal funds sold and other interest earning assets		55,361			18,298			89,663			47,743
Total interest income		6,586,065			6,654,268			19,350,937			19,305,971
Interest expense
Deposits		313,556			460,377			971,320			1,589,334
Securities sold under repurchase agreements		2,874			9,647			8,558			38,130
Federal Home Loan Bank advances and long-term debt		177,883			192,255			543,033			570,542
Total interest expense		494,313			662,279			1,522,911			2,198,006
Net interest income		6,091,752			5,991,989			17,828,026			17,107,965
Provision for loan losses		95,000			330,000			95,000			430,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		5,996,752			5,661,989			17,733,026			16,677,965
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts		201,251			187,141			574,444			522,815
Mortgage banking income		8,155			207,471			195,829			704,404
Bank owned life insurance income		70,479			49,116			179,735			174,602
Fair value adjustment of equity security		(17,611	)		(2,056	)		(62,524	)		(10,214	)
Gain on call of debt security		-			621			-			9,190
Gain on sale of SBA loans		-			6,917			158,123			6,917
Other fees and commissions		75,211			82,768			229,326			229,765
Total noninterest income		337,485			531,978			1,274,933			1,637,479
Noninterest expense
Salaries		1,987,991			1,895,780			5,656,643			5,366,854
Employee benefits		418,422			388,879			1,367,829			1,299,900
Occupancy		229,273			241,557			670,938			737,087
Furniture and equipment		203,075			198,190			642,283			578,562
Other		945,930			740,722			2,815,182			2,386,982
Total noninterest expense		3,784,691			3,465,128			11,152,875			10,369,385
Income before income taxes		2,549,546			2,728,839			7,855,084			7,946,059
Income taxes		575,236			606,292			1,779,239			1,761,718
Net income	$	1,974,310		$	2,122,547		$	6,075,845		$	6,184,341
Earnings per common share - basic and diluted	$	0.65		$	0.70		$	2.00		$	2.05

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact:	Mr. James R. Bosley, Jr.
	Chief Executive Officer
	(410) 374-1510, ext.104

FAQ

What were Farmers and Merchants Bancshares' earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2022?

Farmers and Merchants Bancshares reported net income of $6,075,845, or $2.00 per share.

How did the net interest income change for the nine months ended September 30, 2022?

Net interest income increased by $720,061 due to a $24.9 million rise in average interest-earning assets.

What impact did the AFS investment portfolio have on the company's book value?

The book value per share decreased to $15.01 from $18.64 due to declines in the market value of the AFS investment portfolio.

What was the return on average equity for Farmers and Merchants Bancshares for the nine months ended September 30, 2022?

The return on average equity was 15.53%, up from 15.17% in the previous year.