Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. Reports Record Earnings of $2,029,575 or $0.67 Per Share For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

Rhea-AI Summary

Farmers and Merchants Bancshares reported a record net income of $2,029,575 ($0.67 per share) for Q1 2021, a significant increase from $843,307 ($0.28 per share) in Q1 2020, driven by the acquisition of Carroll Bancorp. Net interest income rose by $1,807,921, aided by a $225.4 million increase in average interest earning assets. Despite a slight decline in loans to $519 million, total assets increased to $696 million. Noninterest income grew by $254,943, while noninterest expenses rose due to the acquisition. The company has also provided $59 million in PPP loans.

Positive

• Q1 2021 net income increased to $2,029,575 from $843,307 in Q1 2020.
• Record earnings per share of $0.67 compared to $0.28 in Q1 2020.
• Net interest income up by $1,807,921, reflecting a $225.4 million increase in average interest earning assets.
• Total assets rose to $696 million at March 31, 2021, from $677 million at December 31, 2020.
• Noninterest income increased by $254,943 primarily due to higher mortgage banking income.

Negative

• Loans decreased slightly to $519 million at March 31, 2021, down from $522 million at December 31, 2020.
• Noninterest expenses increased by $448,811 primarily due to costs associated with the Carroll acquisition.

HAMPSTEAD, Md., April 15, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), the parent of Farmers and Merchants Bank (the “Bank”), announced that net income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $2,029,575, or $0.67 per common share, both all-time quarterly records, compared to $843,307, or $0.28 per common share, for the same period in 2020. The primary driver of the significant increase in net income was the acquisition of Carroll Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary, Carroll Community Bank (collectively, “Carroll”), that was completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. Also, income from Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans added approximately $369,000 to net income.

The Company incurred significant one-time costs during 2020 in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Carroll. The table below provides a comparison of the Company’s results for the first quarter of 2021 versus the same period of the prior year with and without $179,824 of acquisition costs incurred during the first quarter of 2020.

	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2021			March 31, 2020
							Excluding
	As Reported			As Reported			Acquisition Costs
Income before taxes	$	2,615,276		$	996,223		$	1,176,047
Income taxes		585,701			152,916			202,399
Net income	$	2,029,575		$	843,307		$	973,648
Earnings per share	$	0.67		$	0.28		$	0.33
Return on average assets		1.19	%		0.75	%		0.87	%
Return on average equity		15.37	%		6.72	%		7.76	%

Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $1,807,921 higher than for the same period in 2020 due to a $225.4 million increase in average interest earning assets to $655.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to $430.0 million for the same period in 2020, offset by a decline in the taxable equivalent net yield on interest earning assets to 3.43% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from 3.54% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The net yield declined because the yield on loans and investments decreased 50 basis points to 3.92% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from 4.42% for the same period in 2020 as a result of the Federal Reserve rate cuts in March 2020. Our cost of deposits and borrowings decreased 50 basis points to 0.63% for the three months ended March 31, 2021 from 1.13% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The provision for loan losses totaled $120,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $125,000 for the same period in 2020.

Noninterest income increased by $254,943 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020 primarily as a result of a $194,010 increase in mortgage banking income, a $28,107 increase in bank owned life insurance revenue, and a $37,613 gain on sale of Carroll’s Westminster, Maryland branch office. Noninterest expense was $448,811 higher in the three months ended March 31, 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020 due primarily to additional personnel, locations and customers added with the acquisition of Carroll. Salaries and benefits increased $297,203, other expenses increased $228,138 and occupancy, furniture and equipment costs increased $103,294. The aforementioned acquisition costs decreased $179,824. Income taxes increased by $432,785 during the three months ended March 31, 2021 when compared to the same period in 2020 due to higher income before taxes.

Total assets increased to $696 million at March 31, 2021 from $677 million at December 31, 2020. Loans decreased slightly to $519 million at March 31, 2021 from $522 million at December 31, 2020. Investment in debt securities increased to $97 million at March 31, 2021 from $78 million at December 31, 2020. Deposits increased to $603 million at March 31, 2021 from $573 million at December 31, 2020. The book value of the Company’s common stock was $17.64 per share at March 31, 2021, compared to $17.18 per share at December 31, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be winding down with immunizations occurring at a rapid pace. The Company has provided relief to our borrowers, as needed, including temporary deferral of payments. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, the Company modified loans totalling $109.2 million, or 30% of its loan portfolio. At March 31, 2021, $15.9 million, or 3% of the loan portfolio, have COVID-19 modifications. In addition, the Company has originated $59 million of PPP loans to customers, $38 million in 2020 and $21 million in 2021. The Company increased its loan loss reserve significantly in 2020 due to the pandemic, but has yet to incur any actual losses.

James R. Bosley, Jr., President and CEO, commented, “We are pleased that the Carroll acquisition is contributing significantly to net income, as planned, and along with income from PPP loans resulted in the best quarter in our 100+ year history. We will continue to provide for the health and safety of our employees and customers until the pandemic is safely over.”

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”.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact:	Mr. James R. Bosley, Jr.
	President
	(410) 374-1510, ext.104

Farmers and Merchants Bancshares, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets

	March 31,			December 31,
	2021			2020
	(Unaudited)
Assets
Cash and due from banks	$	41,378,357		$	39,898,557
Federal funds sold and other interest-bearing deposits		535,535			1,077,113
Cash and cash equivalents		41,913,892			40,975,670
Certificates of deposit in other banks		350,000			850,000
Securities available for sale		74,849,166			54,477,286
Securities held to maturity		21,945,447			23,078,519
Equity security at fair value		545,713			552,566
Restricted stock, at cost		675,400			900,500
Mortgage loans held for sale		1,682,700			1,673,350
Loans, less allowance for loan losses of $3,423,088 and $3,296,538		519,239,304			521,690,514
Premises and equipment		6,343,681			7,736,556
Accrued interest receivable		1,883,128			2,057,491
Deferred income taxes		1,464,784			1,219,668
Other real estate owned		1,411,605			1,411,605
Bank owned life insurance		15,067,461			11,297,342
Goodwill and other intangibles		7,057,326			7,059,408
Other assets		1,952,747			2,336,607
	$	696,382,354		$	677,317,082
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Deposits
Noninterest-bearing	$	121,925,868		$	103,155,113
Interest-bearing		481,315,407			470,246,434
Total deposits		603,241,275			573,401,547
Securities sold under repurchase agreements		12,648,269			24,753,972
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta advances		5,000,000			5,000,000
Long-term debt		16,974,687			16,973,280
Accrued interest payable		357,961			409,622
Other liabilities		5,046,750			5,049,178
		643,268,942			625,587,599
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, par value $.01 per share,
authorized 5,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding
3,011,255 shares in 2021 and 2020		30,113			30,113
Additional paid-in capital		28,294,139			28,294,139
Retained earnings		24,728,529			22,698,954
Accumulated other comprehensive income		60,631			706,277
		53,113,412			51,729,483
	$	696,382,354		$	677,317,082

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2021				2020
Interest income
Loans, including fees	$	5,984,657			$	4,322,654
Investment securities - taxable		211,224				210,506
Investment securities - tax exempt		160,574				144,084
Federal funds sold and other interest earning assets		14,137				32,792
Total interest income		6,370,592				4,710,036
Interest expense
Deposits		595,520				906,199
Securities sold under repurchase agreements		13,511				38,194
Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other borrowings		188,106				109
Total interest expense		797,137				944,502
Net interest income		5,573,455				3,765,534
Provision for loan losses		120,000				125,000
Net interest income after provision for loan losses		5,453,455				3,640,534
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposit accounts		159,191				158,555
Mortgage banking income		256,267				62,257
Bank owned life insurance income		70,119				42,012
Unrealized gain (loss) on equity security		(100	)			8,510
Gain on sale of former branch office		37,613				-
Other fees and commissions		33,855				30,668
Total noninterest income		556,945				302,002
Noninterest expense
Salaries		1,626,338				1,354,919
Employee benefits		472,888				447,104
Occupancy		250,212				183,152
Furniture and equipment		196,683				160,449
Acquisition		-				179,824
Other		849,003				620,865
Total noninterest expense		3,395,124				2,946,313
Income before income taxes		2,615,276				996,223
Income taxes		585,701				152,916
Net income	$	2,029,575			$	843,307
Earnings per share - basic and diluted	$	0.67			$	0.28

 

FAQ

What were the earnings results for Farmers and Merchants Bancshares (FMFG) in Q1 2021?

In Q1 2021, Farmers and Merchants Bancshares reported a net income of $2,029,575, or $0.67 per share.

How did the Carroll acquisition impact Farmers and Merchants Bancshares (FMFG)?

The Carroll acquisition significantly contributed to the increased net income, allowing the company to record its best quarter in history.

What is the outlook for Farmers and Merchants Bancshares (FMFG) after Q1 2021 results?

The company anticipates continued contributions from the Carroll acquisition and income from PPP loans as it navigates the post-pandemic environment.

How much did Farmers and Merchants Bancshares (FMFG) allocate to PPP loans?

Farmers and Merchants Bancshares allocated $59 million in PPP loans, with $38 million in 2020 and $21 million in 2021.

What was the total asset value for Farmers and Merchants Bancshares (FMFG) as of March 31, 2021?

As of March 31, 2021, total assets for Farmers and Merchants Bancshares reached $696 million.