Butterfield Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

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The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited (NYSE: NTB) reported net income of $41.6 million for Q1 2021, up from $40.3 million in Q1 2020. Core net income also increased to $41.6 million, yielding a diluted EPS of $0.83. However, net interest income fell to $74.9 million, down $12.7 million year-over-year, attributed to lower market interest rates. The efficiency ratio slightly worsened to 64.8%. The bank declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 per share, with total deposits rising to $13.4 billion. Capital ratios remained strong, enhancing shareholder confidence.

Positive

Net income increased to $41.6 million, up from $40.3 million year-over-year.
Core return on average tangible common equity improved to 19.3% from 18.6%.
Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 per share, consistent with shareholder return strategy.
Total deposits increased to $13.4 billion, reflecting strong liquidity.
Regulatory capital ratios remain significantly above Basel III requirements.

Negative

Net interest income decreased by $12.7 million year-over-year to $74.9 million.
Net interest margin dropped to 2.09%, down 54 basis points from Q1 2020.
Efficiency ratio worsened to 64.8% compared to 64.1% in the prior year.

04/28/2021 - 04:30 PM

The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited ("Butterfield" or the "Bank") (BSX: NTB.BH; NYSE: NTB) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Net income and core net income¹ for the three months ended March 31, 2021 were $41.6 million, or $0.83 per diluted common share, compared to net income of $40.3 million, or $0.77 per diluted common share, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and core net income¹ of $40.8 million, or $0.78 per diluted common share, for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

The core return on average tangible common equity¹ for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was 19.3%, compared to core return on average tangible common equity¹ 18.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The efficiency ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was 64.8% compared with 64.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and compared with the core efficiency ratio¹ of 63.8% for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Michael Collins, Butterfield's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "The first quarter of 2021 was a positive start to the year, with solid non-interest income, favorable expense trends, continued focus on capital management, and a constructive interest rate outlook. We continue to target top quartile risk adjusted returns, while maintaining a strong return and credit risk profile.

"As our core markets begin to recover, we remain confident that our strong risk discipline and underwriting expertise has reduced the residual risk of credit losses. We continue to actively communicate with our clients, responding quickly to instances of payment difficulties and working with clients to find a way forward.

"We are responsible stewards of capital, and balance regulatory requirements with growth opportunities and shareholder returns. Our capital management philosophy continues to emphasize a sustainable quarterly cash dividend, organic growth, potential inorganic growth, as well as share repurchases. We target a through-cycle dividend payout ratio of 50%, with flexibility around share buy-backs, depending on market conditions and potential M&A opportunities."

Net interest income (“NII”) for the first quarter of 2021 was $74.9 million, a decrease of $0.7 million compared with NII of $75.6 million in the previous quarter and down $12.7 million from $87.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. NII in the first quarter of 2021 was lower compared to the first quarter of 2020 due to a decrease in market interest rates and accelerated prepayments in the US agency mortgage backed investment portfolio, which resulted in reinvestment at lower rates. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, NII was down marginally due to these lower cash yields, as well as the significant mortgage backed securities pay downs.

Net interest margin (“NIM”) for the first quarter of 2021 was 2.09%, a decrease of 16 basis points from 2.25% in the previous quarter and down 54 basis points from 2.63% in the first quarter of 2020, was primarily due to historically high average levels of cash and customer deposits during the entire first quarter compared to the previous quarter and first quarter of 2020.

Non-interest income was stable at $47.6 million for the first quarter of 2021, compared with $47.8 million in the previous quarter and $47.6 million earned in the first quarter of 2020. The first quarter of 2021 had lower banking revenues due to the seasonal strength of card service fees in the comparative fourth quarter of 2020, which traditionally benefits from the year-end holiday shopping season.

Credit reserve releases totaled $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2021 versus a release of $2.4 million in the previous quarter and a provision increase of $5.2 million during the first quarter of 2020. The reserve release is the result of continued improvements in economic growth forecasts that contribute to lower future expected credit losses.

Non-interest expenses were $80.9 million in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $83.2 million in the previous quarter and $88.1 million in the first quarter of 2020 and compared with core non-interest expenses¹ of $82.4 million in the previous quarter and $87.6 million in the first quarter of 2020. Non-interest expenses were lower in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the prior quarter and the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to lower salaries and benefits costs following restructuring initiatives announced in the second half of 2020, slightly offset by higher indirect taxes.

Period end deposit balances increased slightly to $13.4 billion from $13.3 billion as at December 31, 2020. The elevated deposit balances are expected to moderate in 2021 as depositors activate saved funds as expected economic activity improves.

The Bank continued its balanced capital return policy. The Board again declared a quarterly dividend of $0.44 per common share to be paid on May 26, 2021 to shareholders of record on May 12, 2021. During the first quarter of 2021, Butterfield also repurchased 0.1 million common shares under the Bank's current 2.0 million common share repurchase plan authorization.

The current total regulatory capital ratio as at March 31, 2021 was 20.0% as calculated under Basel III, compared to 19.8% as at December 31, 2020. Both of these ratios are significantly above the Basel III regulatory requirements applicable to the Bank.

(1)

See table "Reconciliation of US GAAP Results to Core Earnings" below for reconciliation of US GAAP results to non- GAAP measures.

ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

Income statement	Three months ended (Unaudited)
(in $ millions)	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020		March 31, 2020
Non-interest income	47.6		47.8		47.6
Net interest income before provision for credit losses	74.9		75.6		87.6
Total net revenue before provision for credit losses and other gains (losses)	122.5		123.3		135.2
Provision for credit recoveries (losses)	1.5		2.4		(5.2	)
Total other gains (losses)	(0.8	)	(0.4	)	(0.6	)
Total net revenue	123.3		125.3		129.4
Non-interest expenses	(80.9	)	(83.2	)	(88.1	)
Total net income before taxes	42.4		42.1		41.3
Income tax benefit (expense)	(0.7	)	(0.1	)	(1.0	)
Net income	41.6		42.1		40.3

Net earnings per share
Basic	0.84		0.85		0.77
Diluted	0.83		0.84		0.77

Per diluted share impact of other non-core items ¹	—		0.02		0.01
Core earnings per share on a fully diluted basis ¹	0.83		0.86		0.78

Adjusted weighted average number of participating shares on a fully diluted basis(in thousands of shares)	49,894		49,809		52,406

Key financial ratios
Return on common equity	17.5	%	16.9	%	16.6	%
Core return on average tangible common equity ¹	19.3	%	19.0	%	18.6	%
Return on average assets	1.1	%	1.2	%	1.2	%
Net interest margin	2.09	%	2.25	%	2.63	%
Core efficiency ratio ¹	64.8	%	65.6	%	63.8	%

(1)

See table "Reconciliation of US GAAP Results to Core Earnings" below for reconciliation of US GAAP results to non-GAAP measures.

Balance Sheet	As at
(in $ millions)	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
Cash due from banks	2,582		3,290
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	175		197
Short-term investments	1,061		823
Investments in securities	5,426		4,863
Loans, net of allowance for credit losses	5,149		5,161
Premises, equipment and computer software, net of accumulated depreciation	146		151
Goodwill and intangibles, net	92		93
Accrued interest and other assets	174		162
Total assets	14,805		14,739

Total deposits	13,361		13,250
Accrued interest and other liabilities	335		335
Long-term debt	172		171
Total liabilities	13,868		13,757
Common shareholders’ equity	936		982
Total shareholders' equity	936		982
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	14,805		14,739

Key Balance Sheet Ratios:	March 31, 2021		December 31, 2020
Common equity tier 1 capital ratio¹	16.4	%	16.1	%
Tier 1 capital ratio¹	16.4	%	16.1	%
Total capital ratio¹	20.0	%	19.8	%
Leverage ratio¹	5.4	%	5.3	%
Risk-Weighted Assets (in $ millions)	5,105		5,069
Risk-Weighted Assets / total assets	34.5	%	34.4	%
Tangible common equity ratio	5.7	%	6.1	%
Book value per common share (in $)	18.84		19.88
Tangible book value per share (in $)	17.00		18.00
Non-accrual loans/gross loans	1.4	%	1.4	%
Non-performing assets/total assets	0.7	%	0.6	%
Total coverage ratio	45.0	%	47.0	%

(1)		In accordance with regulatory capital guidance, the Bank has elected to make use of transitional arrangements which allow the deferral of the January 1, 2020
		Current Expected Credit Loss ("CECL") impact of $7.8 million on its regulatory capital over a period of 5 years.

QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2021 COMPARED WITH THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020

Net Income

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2021 was $41.6 million, down $0.5 million from $42.1 million in the prior quarter.

The $0.5 million decrease in net income in the quarter ended March 31, 2021 over the previous quarter was due principally to the following:

$2.5 million decrease in staff-related expenses driven by reduced headcount related to the phased cost restructure program in 2020 as well as the related costs recognized in the previous quarter;
$0.9 million decrease in recoveries for credit losses driven by a lower incremental improvement in macroeconomic forecasts impacting future expected credit loss estimates;
$0.2 million decrease in non-interest income is mainly due to a $2.2 million decrease in banking income due to reduced card services income in the fourth quarter, which was offset by a $1.9 million increase in foreign exchange revenue driven by higher transactional volumes and a $0.6 million increase in asset management and custody fee revenue; and
$1.0 million decrease in net interest income and total gains (losses).

Non-Core Items¹

There were no non-core expenses, gains or losses during the first quarter of 2021. Management does not believe that comparative period expenses, gains or losses identified as non-core are indicative of the results of operations of the Bank in the ordinary course of business.

(1)

See table "Reconciliation of US GAAP Results to Core Earnings" below for reconciliation of US GAAP results to non-GAAP measures.

BALANCE SHEET COMMENTARY AT MARCH 31, 2021 COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 31, 2020

Total Assets

Total assets of the Bank were $14.8 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $0.1 billion from December 31, 2020. The Bank maintained a highly liquid position at March 31, 2021, with its $9.2 billion of cash and demand deposits with banks, reverse repurchase agreements and liquid investments representing 62.4% of total assets, compared with 62.2% at December 31, 2020.

Loans Receivable

The loan portfolio totaled $5.1 billion at March 31, 2021, which was comparatively flat against December 31, 2020 balances. Bermuda and Cayman saw modest growth in their commercial loan and residential mortgage portfolios, respectively, which was offset by the early repayment of a large commercial facility in the Channel Islands and UK segment.

Allowance for credit losses at March 31, 2021 totaled $31.6 million, a decrease of $2.5 million from $34.1 million balance in December 31, 2020. The movement was due primarily to property market sales which had previously been provisioned for and improving macro-economic forecasts which drive forward-looking expected losses.

The loan portfolio represented 34.8% of total assets at March 31, 2021 (December 31, 2020: 35.0%), while loans as a percentage of total deposits decreased to 38.5% at March 31, 2021 from 38.9% at December 31, 2020. The decrease in both ratios are due principally to an increase in customer deposits at March 31, 2021 due to corporate deposit increases in Cayman and the Channel Islands, and partially offset by expected corporate deposit decreases in Bermuda.

As of March 31, 2021, the Bank had gross non-accrual loans of $70.2 million, representing 1.4% of total gross loans, a decrease of $2.3 million from the $72.5 million, or 1.4%, of total loans at December 31, 2020. The decrease in non-accrual loans was driven by the payoffs of residential mortgages in Bermuda.

Other real estate owned (“OREO”) remained constant at $4.1 million at March 31, 2021.

Investment in Securities

The investment portfolio was $5.4 billion at March 31, 2021, up $0.6 billion from $4.9 billion in December 31, 2020.

The investment portfolio is made up of high quality assets with 99.9% invested in A-or-better-rated securities. The investment yield decreased to 1.95% during the quarter ended March 31, 2021 from 2.11% during the previous quarter. Total net unrealized gains on the available-for-sale and held-to-maturity portfolios decreased to $68.6 million, compared with total net unrealized gains of $183.2 million at December 31, 2020, as a result of increasing long-term US dollar interest rates.

Deposits

Average deposits were $13.4 billion in the first quarter of 2021, a significant increase of $1.2 billion compared to the previous quarter.

Average Balance Sheet²

For the three months ended

March 31, 2021

December 31, 2020

March 31, 2020

(in $ millions)

Average

balance

($)

Interest

($)

Average

rate

(%)

Average

balance

($)

Interest

($)

Average

rate

(%)

Average

balance

($)

Interest

($)

Average

rate

(%)

Assets

Cash due from banks and short-term investments

4,180.1

0.6

0.06

3,539.4

0.6

0.07

3,681.2

9.4

1.03

Investment in securities

5,208.5

25.1

1.95

4,737.9

25.2

2.11

4,503.2

31.2

2.78

Equity securities at fair value

2.0

1.6

2.3

Available-for-sale

2,864.6

11.9

1.69

2,451.3

11.7

1.89

2,319.8

15.0

2.59

Held-to-maturity

2,341.8

13.1

2.27

2,284.9

13.5

2.35

2,181.1

16.2

2.99

Loans

5,161.9

55.6

4.37

5,042.6

56.2

4.42

5,159.8

61.7

4.80

Commercial

1,612.2

18.9

4.75

1,602.4

19.0

4.71

1,792.4

23.2

5.19

Consumer

3,549.7

36.7

4.20

3,440.3

37.1

4.28

3,367.4

38.5

4.59

Interest earning assets

14,550.5

81.2

2.26

13,319.9

81.9

2.44

13,344.1

102.4

3.08

Other assets

371.2

377.5

403.5

Total assets

14,921.8

13,697.5

13,747.6

Liabilities

Deposits

10,538.7

(3.9

)

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