Southside Bancshares, Inc. Announces Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2023

Rhea-AI Summary

Southside Bancshares, Inc. reported a decrease in net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, as well as a decrease in earnings per diluted common share. Net interest income increased, while noninterest income and net interest margin decreased. The company's balance sheet data showed an increase in loans and deposits, and a decrease in securities. Nonperforming assets decreased, and the company declared a cash dividend of $0.35 per share and a special cash dividend of $0.02 per share.

Positive

• Fourth quarter net income of $17.3 million
• Linked quarter loan growth of 2.3%
• Annualized return on fourth quarter average tangible common equity of 13.10%
• Nonperforming assets remain low at 0.05% of total assets
• Increase in net interest income and deposits
• Decrease in noninterest income and net interest margin
• Increase in loans and decrease in securities
• Decrease in nonperforming assets

Negative

• Decrease in net income compared to the same period in 2022
• Decrease in earnings per diluted common share
• Increase in noninterest expense
• Increase in provision for credit losses
• Net charge-offs for the year ended December 31, 2023
• Decrease in noninterest income

Insights

Financial Analyst

The reported fourth quarter net income of $17.3 million represents a significant decline from the previous year's figure of $27.7 million, marking a 37.4% decrease. This downturn is indicative of a challenging operational environment and could suggest underlying issues that may need to be addressed by management. The reported earnings per share (EPS) decrease of 34.5% to $0.57, alongside a fall in annualized return on average assets to 0.85% and average tangible common equity to 13.10%, further emphasizes the performance dip. Investors and stakeholders should closely monitor these metrics, as they are critical indicators of the company's profitability and capital efficiency.

Another key point is the sale of $388 million in lower-yielding securities and the subsequent reinvestment strategy. While this has resulted in a short-term loss, the management's prediction of a two-year payback period through increased net interest income could be favorable if the new investments perform as expected. However, investors should consider the risks associated with such portfolio adjustments, especially in an uncertain interest rate environment.

From a financial analysis standpoint, the increased net interest income linked quarter and loan growth of 2.3% are positive signs, reflecting potential organic growth and interest income optimization. However, the slight decrease in net interest margin may raise concerns about the bank's interest rate risk management and margin compression. The efficiency ratio's increase to 53.30% also indicates higher costs relative to revenue, which could be a point of concern for cost management going forward.

Market Research Analyst

The banking sector is highly sensitive to interest rate fluctuations and the Federal Reserve's monetary policy has a direct impact on banks' net interest margins. Southside Bancshares' decrease in net interest margin suggests that the bank may be facing challenges in managing interest rate risk, which is common in the industry during periods of rate volatility. The market should evaluate whether this trend is in line with peer performance or if Southside's margin compression is an outlier.

Furthermore, the growth in deposits, particularly from public funds, indicates trust and confidence from public entities, which could be a strategic advantage for Southside Bancshares. However, the competitive landscape for deposits is fierce and the increase in interest rates paid on deposits to remain competitive could squeeze margins if not managed effectively.

Lastly, the capital adequacy and liquidity measures, such as the capital ratios and the use of the Federal Reserve’s Bank Term Funding Program, suggest that the bank maintains a solid stance on financial stability. This is crucial for investor confidence, especially during economic uncertainty.

Risk Management Expert

Asset quality is a critical component of a bank's risk profile. Southside Bancshares' report of nonperforming assets at a low 0.05% of total assets is a positive indicator of strong credit quality management. However, the increase in the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans due to economic and repricing concerns reflects proactive risk management in anticipation of potential credit deterioration, which is particularly important given the current economic headwinds.

Additionally, the bank's capital resources and liquidity, such as the contingent liquidity sources net of outstanding borrowings, provide a buffer against market stress. The use of the Federal Reserve’s Bank Term Funding Program to reduce funding costs and enhance interest rate risk position is a strategic move that could benefit the bank's cost structure and risk profile. However, stakeholders should be aware of the potential risks associated with such borrowings, including refinancing risk and changes in borrowing costs.

• Fourth quarter net income of $17.3 million;
• Linked quarter loan growth of 2.3%;
• Fourth quarter earnings per diluted common share of $0.57;
• Annualized return on fourth quarter average assets of 0.85%;
• Annualized return on fourth quarter average tangible common equity of 13.10%⁽¹⁾; and
• Nonperforming assets remain low at 0.05% of total assets.

TYLER, Texas, Jan. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Southside Bancshares, Inc. (“Southside” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: SBSI) today reported its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2023. Southside reported net income of $17.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $10.4 million, or 37.4%, compared to $27.7 million for the same period in 2022. Earnings per diluted common share decreased $0.30, or 34.5%, to $0.57 for the three months ended December 31, 2023, from $0.87 for the same period in 2022. The annualized return on average shareholders’ equity for the three months ended December 31, 2023, was 9.31%, compared to 15.08% for the same period in 2022.  The annualized return on average assets was 0.85% for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to 1.47% for the same period in 2022.

“During the latter part of the fourth quarter, we sold approximately $388 million of lower-yielding available for sale securities and recorded a $10.4 million net loss,” stated Lee R. Gibson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Southside. “The proceeds from these sales were largely reinvested in premium U.S. Agency mortgage-backed pools and to a lesser extent in loans. This reinvestment is estimated to increase net interest income and provide for a two-year payback of the loss incurred. Linked quarter, net interest income increased $1.2 million, while the net interest margin decreased slightly three basis points. Linked quarter, loans increased $103.9 million, or 2.3% and deposits increased $200.1 million, or 3.2%. The increase in deposits was primarily due to an increase in public funds.”

Operating Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2023

Net income was $17.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $27.7 million for the same period in 2022, a decrease of $10.4 million, or 37.4%. Earnings per diluted common share were $0.57 and $0.87 for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The decrease in net income was primarily a result of the decreases in noninterest income and net interest income and the increase in noninterest expense, partially offset by the decrease in income tax expense. Annualized returns on average assets and average shareholders’ equity for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were 0.85% and 9.31%, respectively, compared to 1.47% and 15.08%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2022.  Our efficiency ratio and tax-equivalent efficiency ratio⁽¹⁾ were 53.30% and 50.86%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to 48.92% and 46.38%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2022, and 54.86% and 52.29%, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Net interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $54.5 million, compared to $56.8 million for the same period in 2022, a decrease of 4.1%. The decrease in net interest income was due to the increase in interest expense on our interest bearing liabilities due to higher interest rates and an increase in the average balance of our interest bearing liabilities, partially offset by the increase in interest income, a result of the increase in the average yield and average balance of interest earning assets. Linked quarter, net interest income increased $1.2 million, or 2.3%, compared to $53.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase in net interest income was largely due to the increases in the average balance of interest earning assets and average yield of interest earning assets, partially offset by the increases in the average rate paid on our interest bearing liabilities and the average balance of interest bearing liabilities.

Our net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest margin⁽¹⁾ decreased to 2.83% and 2.99%, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to 3.19% and 3.40%, respectively, for the same period in 2022. Linked quarter, net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest margin⁽¹⁾ decreased from 2.85% and 3.02%, respectively for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Noninterest income was $2.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $8.3 million, or 76.8%, compared to $10.8 million for the same period in 2022. On a linked quarter basis, noninterest income decreased $8.3 million, or 76.9%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. Both decreases were due to a net loss on sale of securities available for sale (“AFS”) of $10.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, partially offset by an increase in bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) income related to a $2.0 million death benefit realized in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Noninterest expense increased $1.6 million, or 4.8%, to $35.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $33.6 million for the same period in 2022, due to increases in other noninterest expense, software and data processing expense and FDIC insurance, partially offset by a decrease in net occupancy expense. On a linked quarter basis, noninterest expense decreased by $0.4 million, or 1.0%, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Income tax expense decreased $2.1 million, or 48.6%, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. On a linked quarter basis, income tax expense decreased $0.9 million, or 29.3%. Our effective tax rate (“ETR”) decreased to 11.3% for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to 13.4% for the three months ended December 31, 2022, and decreased from 14.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The lower ETR for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, was primarily due to an increase in tax-exempt income as a percentage of pre-tax income.

Operating Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2023

Net income was $86.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $105.0 million for the same period in 2022, a decrease of $18.3 million, or 17.5%. Earnings per diluted common share were $2.82 for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $3.26 for the same period in 2022, a decrease of 13.5%. The decrease in net income was primarily a result of the increase in noninterest expense, the decrease in noninterest income and the increase in provision for credit losses, partially offset by the increase in net interest income. Returns on average assets and average shareholders’ equity for the year ended December 31, 2023 were 1.11% and 11.50%, respectively, compared to 1.43% and 13.42%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.  Our efficiency ratio and tax-equivalent efficiency ratio⁽¹⁾ were 53.81% and 51.30%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 50.05% and 47.39%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Net interest income was $215.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $212.3 million for the same period in 2022, due to the increase in interest income, a result of the increase in the average yield and average balance of our interest earning assets, partially offset by the increase in average rate paid and average balance of our interest bearing liabilities.

Our net interest margin and tax-equivalent net interest margin⁽¹⁾ were 2.92% and 3.09%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 3.11% and 3.32%, respectively, for the same period in 2022. The decrease in net interest margin was due to larger average rate and balance increases on our interest-bearing liabilities when compared to the interest earning assets during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Noninterest income was $35.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $5.0 million, or 12.3%, compared to $40.9 million for the same period in 2022. The decrease was due to an increase in net loss on sale of securities AFS and a decrease in other noninterest income, partially offset by a net gain on sale of equity securities and an increase in BOLI income related to death benefits realized during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Noninterest expense was $140.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $130.3 million for the same period in 2022, an increase of $10.3 million, or 7.9%. The increase was due to increases in other noninterest expense, salaries and employee benefits, software and data processing expense, FDIC insurance and advertising, travel and entertainment.

Income tax expense decreased $0.2 million, or 1.2%, for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. Our ETR was approximately 14.3% and 12.2% for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The higher ETR for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the same period in 2022, was primarily due to a decrease in tax-exempt income as a percentage of pre-tax income.

Balance Sheet Data

At December 31, 2023, Southside had $8.28 billion in total assets, compared to $7.56 billion at December 31, 2022 and $7.97 billion at September 30, 2023.

Loans at December 31, 2023 were $4.52 billion, an increase of $376.8 million, or 9.1%, compared to $4.15 billion at December 31, 2022. Linked quarter, loans increased $103.9 million, or 2.3%, due to increases of $69.2 million in construction loans, $51.1 million in commercial real estate loans, and $7.2 million in 1-4 family residential loans. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $18.9 million in commercial loans, $4.5 million in loans to individuals and $0.3 million in municipal loans. Loans held for sale at December 31, 2023 were $10.9 million, an increase of $10.2 million, compared to $667,000 at December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to the transfer of an $8.1 million commercial real estate loan relationship to loans held for sale that included a write down of $788,000 to fair value.

Securities at December 31, 2023 were $2.60 billion, a decrease of $22.4 million, or 0.9%, compared to $2.63 billion at December 31, 2022. Linked quarter, securities decreased $40.1 million, or 1.5%, from $2.64 billion at September 30, 2023.

Deposits at December 31, 2023 were $6.55 billion, an increase of $351.7 million, or 5.7%, compared to $6.20 billion at December 31, 2022. Linked quarter, deposits increased $200.1 million, or 3.2%, from $6.35 billion at September 30, 2023. During the three months ended December 31, 2023, public fund deposits increased $145.4 million, or 13.6%, and brokered deposits increased $38.4 million, or 4.9%, compared to September 30, 2023.

At December 31, 2023, we had 180,057 total deposit accounts with an average balance of $32,000. Our estimated uninsured deposits was 37.5% as of December 31, 2023. When excluding affiliate deposits (Southside-owned deposits) and public fund deposits (all collateralized), our total estimated deposits without insurance or collateral was 19.0% as of December 31, 2023. We continued to increase interest rates paid on deposits during the quarter in order to retain deposits and to remain competitive with current pricing in the market. Our noninterest bearing deposits represent approximately 21.2% of total deposits. Linked quarter, our cost of interest bearing deposits increased 25 basis points from 2.58% in the prior quarter to 2.83%. Linked quarter, our cost of total deposits increased 22 basis points from 1.98% in the prior quarter to 2.20%.

Our cost of interest bearing deposits increased 168 basis points, from 0.66% for the year ended December 31, 2022, to 2.34% for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our cost of total deposits increased 129 basis points, from 0.48% for the year ended December 31, 2022, to 1.77% for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

Our capital ratios and contingent liquidity sources remain solid. During the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023, we purchased 146,580 shares of the Company’s common stock at an average price of $28.54 authorized pursuant to the Stock Repurchase Plan. Repurchases may be carried out in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or pursuant to any trading plan that might be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company has no obligation to repurchase any shares under the Stock Repurchase Plan and may modify, suspend or discontinue the plan at any time. We have not purchased any common stock pursuant to the Stock Repurchase Plan subsequent to December 31, 2023.

We utilized the Federal Reserve’s Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) to reduce our overall funding costs and to enhance our interest rate risk position. As of December 31, 2023, our BTFP borrowings of $117.7 million were at a cost of 4.37%. As of December 31, 2023, our total available contingent liquidity, net of current outstanding borrowings, was $2.22 billion, consisting of FHLB advances, Federal Reserve Discount Window and correspondent bank lines of credit.

Asset Quality

Nonperforming assets at December 31, 2023 were $4.0 million, or 0.05% of total assets, a decrease of $6.9 million, or 63.2%, compared to $10.9 million, or 0.14% of total assets, at December 31, 2022. The decrease in nonperforming assets was primarily due to the adoption of ASU 2022-02 on January 1, 2023, which allowed for the prospective exclusion of loan modifications that are performing but would have previously required disclosure as troubled debt restructures in nonperforming assets. Linked quarter, nonperforming assets decreased from $4.4 million at September 30, 2023 due to a decrease of $0.4 million, or 9.9%, in nonaccrual loans.

The allowance for loan losses totaled $42.7 million, or 0.94% of total loans, at December 31, 2023, compared to $36.5 million, or 0.88% of total loans, at December 31, 2022. The increase in the allowance as a percentage of total loans was primarily due to increased economic and repricing concerns forecasted in our CECL model when compared to December 31, 2022. The allowance for loan losses was $41.8 million, or 0.94% of total loans, at September 30, 2023.

For the three months ended December 31, 2023, we recorded a provision for credit losses for loans of $2.2 million, compared to $0.5 million and $6.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2023, respectively. We recorded a provision for credit losses for loans of $8.9 million and $1.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Net charge-offs were $1.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to net charge-offs of $0.5 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2023, respectively. Net charge-offs were $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to net charge-offs of $0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

We recorded a provision for credit losses for off-balance-sheet credit exposures of $0.1 million, $1.6 million and $0.6 million for the three month periods ending December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022 and September 30, 2023, respectively. We recorded a provision for credit losses for off-balance-sheet credit exposures of $0.2 million and $1.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The balance of the allowance for off-balance-sheet credit exposures at December 31, 2023 and 2022, was $3.9 million and $3.7 million, respectively, and is included in other liabilities.

Dividend

Southside Bancshares, Inc. declared a fourth quarter cash dividend of $0.35 per share and a special cash dividend of $0.02 per share on November 2, 2023, which was paid on December 7, 2023, to all shareholders of record as of November 22, 2023.

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^{(1) Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below and to “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for more information and for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.}

Conference Call

Southside's management team will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023 financial results on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. CDT.  The conference call can be accessed by webcast, for listen-only mode, on the company website, https://investors.southside.com, under Events.

Those interested in participating in the question and answer session, or others who prefer to call-in, can register at https://register.vevent.com/register/BIf5050b70aa774d69bbaa7dd6b7a57b27 to receive the dial-in number and unique code to access the conference call seamlessly. While not required, it is recommended that those wishing to participate, register 10 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure a more efficient registration process.

For those unable to attend the live event, a webcast recording will be available on the company website, https://investors.southside.com, for at least 30 days, beginning approximately two hours following the conference call.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Our accounting and reporting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) in the United States and prevailing practices in the banking industry. However, certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the following fully taxable-equivalent measures (“FTE”): (i) Net interest income (FTE), (ii) net interest margin (FTE), (iii) net interest spread (FTE), and (iv) efficiency ratio (FTE), which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a federal income tax rate of 21% to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis. Interest income earned on certain assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments.

Net interest income (FTE), net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE). Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from certain loans and investments and is not permitted under GAAP in the consolidated statements of income. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and that it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin (FTE) is the ratio of net interest income (FTE) to average earning assets. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread (FTE) is the difference in the average yield on average earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

Efficiency ratio (FTE).  The efficiency ratio (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that provides a measure of productivity in the banking industry. This ratio is calculated to measure the cost of generating one dollar of revenue. The ratio is designed to reflect the percentage of one dollar which must be expended to generate that dollar of revenue. We calculate this ratio by dividing noninterest expense, excluding amortization expense on intangibles and certain nonrecurring expense by the sum of net interest income (FTE) and noninterest income, excluding net gain (loss) on sale of securities available for sale and certain nonrecurring impairments. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our efficiency ratio.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently. Whenever we present a non-GAAP financial measure in an SEC filing, we are also required to present the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and reconcile the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure and such comparable GAAP measure.

Management believes adjusting net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread to a fully taxable-equivalent basis is a standard practice in the banking industry as these measures provide useful information to make peer comparisons. Tax-equivalent adjustments are reflected in the respective earning asset categories as listed in the “Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates” tables.

A reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

About Southside Bancshares, Inc.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. is a bank holding company with approximately $8.28 billion in assets as of December 31, 2023, that owns 100% of Southside Bank.  Southside Bank currently has 55 branches in Texas and operates a network of 73 ATMs/ITMs.

To learn more about Southside Bancshares, Inc., please visit our investor relations website at https://investors.southside.com. Our investor relations site provides a detailed overview of our activities, financial information and historical stock price data.  To receive email notification of company news, events and stock activity, please register on the website under Resources and Investor Email Alerts.  Questions or comments may be directed to Lindsey Bailes at (903) 630-7965, or lindsey.bailes@southside.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements of other than historical fact that are contained in this press release and in other written materials, documents and oral statements issued by or on behalf of the Company may be considered to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of and subject to the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management’s views as of any subsequent date.  These statements may include words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “seek,” “intend,” “probability,” “risk,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” “plans,” “potential,” and similar expressions.  Forward-looking statements are statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, expectations, objectives, goals, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.  For example, discussions of the effect of our expansion, benefits of the Share Repurchase Plan, trends in asset quality, capital, liquidity, the Company's ability to sell nonperforming assets, expense reductions, planned operational efficiencies and earnings from growth and certain market risk disclosures, including the impact of interest rates, tax reform, inflation, the impacts related to or resulting from other economic factors are based upon information presently available to management and are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations.  By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future.  Accordingly, our results could materially differ from those that have been estimated. The most significant factor that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated by our forward-looking statements include the ongoing impact of higher inflation levels, higher interest rates and general economic and recessionary concerns, all of which could impact economic growth and could cause a reduction in financial transactions and business activities, including decreased deposits and reduced loan originations, our ability to manage liquidity in a rapidly changing and unpredictable market, supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and additional interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve.

Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including additional factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, under “Part I - Item 1. Forward Looking Information” and “Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors,” in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 under “Part II - Item 1A. Risk Factors” and in the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company disclaims any obligation to update any factors or to announce publicly the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Consolidated Financial Summary (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	As of
		2023																2022
	Dec 31,				Sep 30,				Jun 30,				Mar 31,				Dec 31,
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	122,021			$	105,601			$	114,707			$	101,109			$	106,143
Interest earning deposits		391,719				106,094				14,059				151,999				9,276
Federal funds sold		46,770				114,128				78,347				57,384				83,833
Securities available for sale, at estimated fair value		1,296,294				1,335,560				1,339,821				1,437,222				1,299,014
Securities held to maturity, at net carrying value		1,307,053				1,307,886				1,308,472				1,308,457				1,326,729
Total securities		2,603,347				2,643,446				2,648,293				2,745,679				2,625,743
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost		11,936				12,778				10,801				16,696				9,190
Loans held for sale		10,894				1,382				1,666				407				667
Loans		4,524,510				4,420,633				4,329,043				4,152,644				4,147,691
Less: Allowance for loan losses		(42,674	)			(41,760	)			(36,303	)			(36,332	)			(36,515	)
Net loans		4,481,836				4,378,873				4,292,740				4,116,312				4,111,176
Premises & equipment, net		138,950				139,473				139,801				141,363				141,256
Goodwill		201,116				201,116				201,116				201,116				201,116
Other intangible assets, net		2,925				3,295				3,702				4,144				4,622
Bank owned life insurance		136,330				135,737				134,951				134,635				133,911
Other assets		137,070				130,545				167,069				121,501				131,703
Total assets	$	8,284,914			$	7,972,468			$	7,807,252			$	7,792,345			$	7,558,636
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Noninterest bearing deposits	$	1,390,407			$	1,431,285			$	1,466,756			$	1,543,413			$	1,671,562
Interest bearing deposits		5,159,274				4,918,286				4,650,931				4,294,807				4,526,457
Total deposits		6,549,681				6,349,571				6,117,687				5,838,220				6,198,019
Other borrowings and Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		722,468				608,038				683,348				958,810				374,511
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		93,877				93,838				93,796				98,710				98,674
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		60,270				60,269				60,267				60,266				60,265
Other liabilities		85,330				132,157				86,993				85,309				81,170
Total liabilities		7,511,626				7,243,873				7,042,091				7,041,315				6,812,639
Shareholders' equity		773,288				728,595				765,161				751,030				745,997
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	8,284,914			$	7,972,468			$	7,807,252			$	7,792,345			$	7,558,636

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)
	Three Months Ended
		2023																2022
	Dec 31,				Sep 30,				Jun 30,				Mar 31,				Dec 31,
Income Statement:
Total interest income	$	98,939			$	93,078			$	86,876			$	80,848			$	75,128
Total interest expense		44,454				39,805				32,960				27,495				18,286
Net interest income		54,485				53,273				53,916				53,353				56,842
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses		2,281				6,987				(74	)			(40	)			2,086
Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit losses		52,204				46,286				53,990				53,393				54,756
Noninterest income
Deposit services		6,305				6,479				6,291				6,422				6,478
Net gain (loss) on sale of securities available for sale		(10,386	)			11				(3,455	)			(2,146	)			—
Net gain on sale of equity securities		—				—				2,642				2,416				—
Gain on sale of loans		178				96				185				104				36
Trust fees		1,431				1,522				1,490				1,467				1,571
Bank owned life insurance		2,602				790				756				1,675				516
Brokerage services		944				760				904				697				727
Other		1,427				1,178				1,651				1,398				1,438
Total noninterest income		2,501				10,836				10,464				12,033				10,766
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits		21,152				21,241				21,376				21,856				20,967
Net occupancy		3,474				3,796				3,690				3,734				3,973
Advertising, travel & entertainment		1,127				1,062				854				1,050				1,188
ATM expense		318				358				320				355				360
Professional fees		1,315				1,472				1,192				1,372				1,473
Software and data processing		2,644				2,432				2,264				2,055				1,741
Communications		435				359				348				327				387
FDIC insurance		892				902				1,220				544				511
Amortization of intangibles		370				407				442				478				515
Other		3,456				3,524				3,287				3,078				2,446
Total noninterest expense		35,183				35,553				34,993				34,849				33,561
Income before income tax expense		19,522				21,569				29,461				30,577				31,961
Income tax expense		2,206				3,120				4,568				4,543				4,293
Net income	$	17,316			$	18,449			$	24,893			$	26,034			$	27,668
Common Share Data:
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding		30,235				30,502				30,721				31,372				31,896
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding		30,276				30,543				30,754				31,464				31,964
Common shares outstanding end of period		30,249				30,338				30,532				31,121				31,547
Earnings per common share
Basic	$	0.57			$	0.60			$	0.81			$	0.83			$	0.87
Diluted		0.57				0.60				0.81				0.83				0.87
Book value per common share		25.56				24.02				25.06				24.13				23.65
Tangible book value per common share		18.82				17.28				18.35				17.54				17.13
Cash dividends paid per common share		0.37				0.35				0.35				0.35				0.38
Selected Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets		0.85	%			0.93	%			1.29	%			1.38	%			1.47	%
Return on average shareholders’ equity		9.31				9.50				13.32				13.92				15.08
Return on average tangible common equity (1)		13.10				13.17				18.59				19.36				21.35
Average yield on earning assets (FTE) (1)		5.30				5.15				5.00				4.76				4.43
Average rate on interest bearing liabilities		3.04				2.84				2.45				2.14				1.48
Net interest margin (FTE) (1)		2.99				3.02				3.17				3.21				3.40
Net interest spread (FTE) (1)		2.26				2.31				2.55				2.62				2.95
Average earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities		131.65				133.24				134.12				137.67				143.66
Noninterest expense to average total assets		1.73				1.79				1.82				1.85				1.78
Efficiency ratio (FTE) (1)		50.86				52.29				51.06				50.99				46.38

^{(1)   Refer to “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.}

 

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
		2023																2022
	Dec 31,				Sep 30,				Jun 30,				Mar 31,				Dec 31,
Nonperforming Assets:	$	4,001			$	4,381			$	3,059			$	3,180			$	10,862
Nonaccrual loans		3,889				4,316				3,017				3,169				2,846
Accruing loans past due more than 90 days		—				—				—				—				—
Restructured loans (1)		13				15				—				—				7,849
Other real estate owned		99				50				—				—				93
Repossessed assets		—				—				42				11				74
Asset Quality Ratios:
Ratio of nonaccruing loans to:
Total loans		0.09	%			0.10	%			0.07	%			0.08	%			0.07	%
Ratio of nonperforming assets to:
Total assets		0.05				0.05				0.04				0.04				0.14
Total loans		0.09				0.10				0.07				0.08				0.26
Total loans and OREO		0.09				0.10				0.07				0.08				0.26
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to:
Nonaccruing loans		1,097.30				967.56				1,203.28				1,146.48				1,283.03
Nonperforming assets		1,066.58				953.21				1,186.76				1,142.52				336.17
Total loans		0.94				0.94				0.84				0.87				0.88
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans outstanding		0.11				0.08				0.03				0.03				0.05
Capital Ratios:
Shareholders’ equity to total assets		9.33				9.14				9.80				9.64				9.87
Common equity tier 1 capital		12.28				12.27				12.32				12.73				12.63
Tier 1 risk-based capital		13.32				13.31				13.37				13.81				13.70
Total risk-based capital		15.73				15.71				15.68				16.28				16.11
Tier 1 leverage capital		9.39				9.61				9.69				9.83				9.96
Period end tangible equity to period end tangible assets (2)		7.04				6.75				7.37				7.19				7.35
Average shareholders’ equity to average total assets		9.13				9.76				9.72				9.94				9.72

^{(1)   Pursuant to our adoption of ASU 2022-02, effective January 1, 2023, we prospectively discontinued the recognition and measurement guidance previously required on troubled debt restructures. As a result, “restructured” loans beginning March 31, 2023, exclude any loan modifications that are performing but would have previously required disclosure as troubled debt restructures.
(2)   Refer to the “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.}

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
		2023																2022
Loan Portfolio Composition	Dec 31,				Sep 30,				Jun 30,				Mar 31,				Dec 31,
Real Estate Loans:
Construction	$	789,744			$	720,515			$	657,354			$	591,894			$	559,681
1-4 Family Residential		696,738				689,492				684,878				672,595				663,519
Commercial		2,168,451				2,117,306				2,100,338				1,990,861				1,987,707
Commercial Loans		366,893				385,816				383,724				388,182				412,064
Municipal Loans		441,168				441,512				435,211				438,566				450,067
Loans to Individuals		61,516				65,992				67,538				70,546				74,653
Total Loans	$	4,524,510			$	4,420,633			$	4,329,043			$	4,152,644			$	4,147,691
Summary of Changes in Allowances:
Allowance for Loan Losses
Balance at beginning of period	$	41,760			$	36,303			$	36,332			$	36,515			$	36,506
Loans charged-off		(1,572	)			(1,262	)			(737	)			(633	)			(864	)
Recoveries of loans charged-off		284				378				430				362				383
Net loans (charged-off) recovered		(1,288	)			(884	)			(307	)			(271	)			(481	)
Provision for (reversal of) loan losses		2,202				6,341				278				88				490
Balance at end of period	$	42,674			$	41,760			$	36,303			$	36,332			$	36,515
Allowance for Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,853			$	3,207			$	3,559			$	3,687			$	2,091
Provision for (reversal of) off-balance-sheet credit exposures		79				646				(352	)			(128	)			1,596
Balance at end of period	$	3,932			$	3,853			$	3,207			$	3,559			$	3,687
Total Allowance for Credit Losses	$	46,606			$	45,613			$	39,510			$	39,891			$	40,202

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended
	December 31,
		2023				2022
Income Statement:
Total interest income	$	359,741			$	252,981
Total interest expense		144,714				40,640
Net interest income		215,027				212,341
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses		9,154				3,241
Net interest income after provision for (reversal of) credit losses		205,873				209,100
Noninterest income
Deposit services		25,497				25,843
Net gain (loss) on sale of securities available for sale		(15,976	)			(3,819	)
Net gain on sale of equity securities		5,058				—
Gain on sale of loans		563				531
Trust fees		5,910				5,992
Bank owned life insurance		5,823				2,647
Brokerage services		3,305				3,335
Other		5,654				6,328
Total noninterest income		35,834				40,857
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits		85,625				82,633
Net occupancy		14,694				15,130
Advertising, travel & entertainment		4,093				3,430
ATM expense		1,351				1,314
Professional fees		5,351				4,959
Software and data processing		9,395				6,847
Communications		1,469				1,896
FDIC insurance		3,558				1,945
Amortization of intangibles		1,697				2,273
Other		13,345				9,899
Total noninterest expense		140,578				130,326
Income before income tax expense		101,129				119,631
Income tax expense		14,437				14,611
Net income	$	86,692			$	105,020
Common Share Data:
Weighted-average basic shares outstanding		30,704				32,120
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding		30,759				32,251
Common shares outstanding end of period		30,249				31,547
Earnings per common share
Basic	$	2.82			$	3.27
Diluted		2.82				3.26
Book value per common share		25.56				23.65
Tangible book value per common share		18.82				17.13
Cash dividends paid per common share		1.42				1.40
Selected Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets		1.11	%			1.43	%
Return on average shareholders’ equity		11.50				13.42
Return on average tangible common equity (1)		16.03				18.56
Average yield on earning assets (FTE) (1)		5.06				3.92
Average rate on interest bearing liabilities		2.64				0.85
Net interest margin (FTE) (1)		3.09				3.32
Net interest spread (FTE) (1)		2.42				3.07
Average earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities		134.07				143.25
Noninterest expense to average total assets		1.80				1.77
Efficiency ratio (FTE) (1)		51.30				47.39

^{(1)   Refer to “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.}

  

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended
	December 31,
		2023				2022
Nonperforming Assets:	$	4,001			$	10,862
Nonaccrual loans		3,889				2,846
Accruing loans past due more than 90 days		—				—
Restructured loans (1)		13				7,849
Other real estate owned		99				93
Repossessed assets		—				74
Asset Quality Ratios:
Ratio of nonaccruing loans to:
Total loans		0.09	%			0.07	%
Ratio of nonperforming assets to:
Total assets		0.05				0.14
Total loans		0.09				0.26
Total loans and OREO		0.09				0.26
Ratio of allowance for loan losses to:
Nonaccruing loans		1,097.30				1,283.03
Nonperforming assets		1,066.58				336.17
Total loans		0.94				0.88
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans outstanding		0.06				0.02
Capital Ratios:
Shareholders’ equity to total assets		9.33				9.87
Common equity tier 1 capital		12.28				12.63
Tier 1 risk-based capital		13.32				13.70
Total risk-based capital		15.73				16.11
Tier 1 leverage capital		9.39				9.96
Period end tangible equity to period end tangible assets (2)		7.04				7.35
Average shareholders’ equity to average total assets		9.63				10.65

^{(1)   Pursuant to our adoption of ASU 2022-02, effective January 1, 2023, we prospectively discontinued the recognition and measurement guidance previously required on troubled debt restructures. As a result, “restructured” loans beginning March 31, 2023, exclude any loan modifications that are performing but would have previously required disclosure as troubled debt restructures.
(2)   Refer to the “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” at the end of the financial statement tables in this Earnings Release for a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the nearest GAAP financial measure.}

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Consolidated Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended
	December 31,
Loan Portfolio Composition		2023				2022
Real Estate Loans:
Construction	$	789,744			$	559,681
1-4 Family Residential		696,738				663,519
Commercial		2,168,451				1,987,707
Commercial Loans		366,893				412,064
Municipal Loans		441,168				450,067
Loans to Individuals		61,516				74,653
Total Loans	$	4,524,510			$	4,147,691
Summary of Changes in Allowances:
Allowance for Loan Losses
Balance at beginning of period	$	36,515			$	35,273
Loans charged-off		(4,204	)			(2,584	)
Recoveries of loans charged-off		1,454				1,888
Net loans (charged-off) recovered		(2,750	)			(696	)
Provision for (reversal of) loan losses		8,909				1,938
Balance at end of period	$	42,674			$	36,515
Allowance for Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,687			$	2,384
Provision for (reversal of) off-balance-sheet credit exposures		245				1,303
Balance at end of period	$	3,932			$	3,687
Total Allowance for Credit Losses	$	46,606			$	40,202

Southside Bancshares, Inc.
Average Balances and Average Yields and Rates (Annualized) (Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

The tables that follow show average earning assets and interest bearing liabilities together with the average yield on the earning assets and the average rate of the interest bearing liabilities for the periods presented. The interest and related yields presented are on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are therefore non-GAAP measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Non-GAAP Reconciliation” for more information.

	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2023										September 30, 2023
	Average Balance				Interest			Average Yield/Rate			Average Balance				Interest			Average Yield/Rate
ASSETS
Loans (1)	$	4,473,618			$	67,886		6.02	%		$	4,396,184			$	64,758		5.84	%
Loans held for sale		1,858				27		5.77	%			1,537				26		6.71	%
Securities:
Taxable investment securities (2)		852,023				7,970		3.71	%			912,789				8,731		3.79	%
Tax-exempt investment securities (2)		1,456,187				15,688		4.27	%			1,510,044				16,232		4.26	%
Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)		581,548				6,865		4.68	%			442,908				4,426		3.96	%
Total securities		2,889,758				30,523		4.19	%			2,865,741				29,389		4.07	%
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments		24,674				296		4.76	%			22,363				265		4.70	%
Interest earning deposits		150,763				2,054		5.41	%			37,891				535		5.60	%
Federal funds sold		93,149				1,286		5.48	%			94,441				1,253		5.26	%
Total earning assets		7,633,820				102,072		5.30	%			7,418,157				96,226		5.15	%
Cash and due from banks		110,380										106,348
Accrued interest and other assets		374,120										400,850
Less:  Allowance for loan losses		(41,822	)									(36,493	)
Total assets	$	8,076,498									$	7,888,862
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Savings accounts	$	610,453				1,432		0.93	%		$	622,246				1,458		0.93	%
Certificates of deposit		910,759				9,691		4.22	%			949,894				9,443		3.94	%
Interest bearing demand accounts		3,469,120				24,498		2.80	%			3,189,048				20,050		2.49	%
Total interest bearing deposits		4,990,332				35,621		2.83	%			4,761,188				30,951		2.58	%
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		262,709				1,430		2.16	%			230,184				1,174		2.02	%
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		93,859				965		4.08	%			93,817				962		4.07	%
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		60,269				1,195		7.87	%			60,268				1,178		7.75	%
Repurchase agreements		96,622				1,008		4.14	%			104,070				1,048		4.00	%
Other borrowings		294,683				4,235		5.70	%			317,913				4,492		5.61	%
Total interest bearing liabilities		5,798,474				44,454		3.04	%			5,567,440				39,805		2.84	%
Noninterest bearing deposits		1,424,961										1,441,738
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		115,388										109,490
Total liabilities		7,338,823										7,118,668
Shareholders’ equity		737,675										770,194
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	8,076,498									$	7,888,862
Net interest income (FTE)					$	57,618									$	56,421
Net interest margin (FTE)								2.99	%									3.02	%
Net interest spread (FTE)								2.26	%									2.31	%

^{(1)   Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
(2)   For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.}

Note: As of December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, loans totaling $3.9 million and $4.3 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status. Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Average Balances and Average Yields and Rates (Annualized) (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	June 30, 2023										March 31, 2023
	Average Balance				Interest			Average Yield/Rate			Average Balance				Interest			Average Yield/Rate
ASSETS
Loans (1)	$	4,197,130			$	59,334		5.67	%		$	4,128,775			$	55,453		5.45	%
Loans held for sale		1,664				23		5.54	%			1,662				20		4.88	%
Securities:
Taxable investment securities (2)		925,445				8,773		3.80	%			690,864				5,712		3.35	%
Tax-exempt investment securities (2)		1,562,232				16,182		4.15	%			1,692,700				16,466		3.95	%
Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)		401,427				3,830		3.83	%			455,811				4,329		3.85	%
Total securities		2,889,104				28,785		4.00	%			2,839,375				26,507		3.79	%
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments		21,480				379		7.08	%			31,470				245		3.16	%
Interest earning deposits		56,604				742		5.26	%			87,924				1,033		4.76	%
Federal funds sold		59,186				748		5.07	%			72,630				837		4.67	%
Total earning assets		7,225,168				90,011		5.00	%			7,161,836				84,095		4.76	%
Cash and due from banks		103,559										107,765
Accrued interest and other assets		419,420										398,709
Less:  Allowance for loan losses		(36,512	)									(36,690	)
Total assets	$	7,711,635									$	7,631,620
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Savings accounts	$	648,560				1,430		0.88	%		$	665,919				1,313		0.80	%
Certificates of deposit		797,992				6,365		3.20	%			787,887				5,407		2.78	%
Interest bearing demand accounts		2,841,818				13,884		1.96	%			2,983,218				13,186		1.79	%
Total interest bearing deposits		4,288,370				21,679		2.03	%			4,437,024				19,906		1.82	%
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		211,309				1,032		1.96	%			404,199				3,141		3.15	%
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		97,804				994		4.08	%			98,693				999		4.11	%
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		60,266				1,100		7.32	%			60,265				1,031		6.94	%
Repurchase agreements		97,915				883		3.62	%			65,435				492		3.05	%
Other borrowings		631,447				7,272		4.62	%			136,700				1,926		5.71	%
Total interest bearing liabilities		5,387,111				32,960		2.45	%			5,202,316				27,495		2.14	%
Noninterest bearing deposits		1,490,445										1,588,725
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		84,252										81,829
Total liabilities		6,961,808										6,872,870
Shareholders’ equity		749,827										758,750
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	7,711,635									$	7,631,620
Net interest income (FTE)					$	57,051									$	56,600
Net interest margin (FTE)								3.17	%									3.21	%
Net interest spread (FTE)								2.55	%									2.62	%

^{(1)   Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
(2)   For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.}

Note: As of June 30, 2023 and March 31, 2023, loans totaling $3.0 million and $3.2 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status. Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Average Balances and Average Yields and Rates (Annualized) (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2022
	Average Balance				Interest			Average Yield/Rate
ASSETS
Loans (1)	$	4,103,429			$	52,650		5.09	%
Loans held for sale		1,087				15		5.47	%
Securities:
Taxable investment securities (2)		622,004				4,804		3.06	%
Tax-exempt investment securities (2)		1,730,233				15,652		3.59	%
Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)		483,914				4,614		3.78	%
Total securities		2,836,151				25,070		3.51	%
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments		22,616				212		3.72	%
Interest earning deposits		10,974				108		3.90	%
Federal funds sold		84,858				774		3.62	%
Total earning assets		7,059,115				78,829		4.43	%
Cash and due from banks		108,200
Accrued interest and other assets		356,248
Less:  Allowance for loan losses		(36,602	)
Total assets	$	7,486,961
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Savings accounts	$	676,654				758		0.44	%
Certificates of deposit		645,972				3,035		1.86	%
Interest bearing demand accounts		3,119,682				9,894		1.26	%
Total interest bearing deposits		4,442,308				13,687		1.22	%
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		189,939				1,623		3.39	%
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		98,657				1,013		4.07	%
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		60,264				901		5.93	%
Repurchase agreements		37,416				117		1.24	%
Other borrowings		85,033				945		4.41	%
Total interest bearing liabilities		4,913,617				18,286		1.48	%
Noninterest bearing deposits		1,757,568
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		88,024
Total liabilities		6,759,209
Shareholders’ equity		727,752
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	7,486,961
Net interest income (FTE)					$	60,543
Net interest margin (FTE)								3.40	%
Net interest spread (FTE)								2.95	%

(1)   Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
(2)   For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.

Note: As of December 31, 2022, loans totaling $2.8 million were on nonaccrual status. Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

Southside Bancshares, Inc. Average Balances and Average Yields and Rates (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended
	December 31, 2023										December 31, 2022
	Average Balance				Interest			Average Yield/Rate			Average Balance				Interest			Average Yield/Rate
ASSETS
Loans (1)	$	4,300,138			$	247,431		5.75	%		$	3,918,249			$	173,355		4.42	%
Loans held for sale		1,681				96		5.71	%			1,098				48		4.37	%
Securities:
Taxable investment securities (2)		845,907				31,186		3.69	%			627,546				18,940		3.02	%
Tax-exempt investment securities (2)		1,554,519				64,568		4.15	%			1,675,227				56,389		3.37	%
Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)		470,692				19,450		4.13	%			496,940				16,639		3.35	%
Total securities		2,871,118				115,204		4.01	%			2,799,713				91,968		3.28	%
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments		24,971				1,185		4.75	%			21,255				503		2.37	%
Interest earning deposits		83,343				4,364		5.24	%			37,898				362		0.96	%
Federal funds sold		79,948				4,124		5.16	%			44,454				1,126		2.53	%
Total earning assets		7,361,199				372,404		5.06	%			6,822,667				267,362		3.92	%
Cash and due from banks		107,018										104,602
Accrued interest and other assets		397,860										457,782
Less:  Allowance for loan losses		(37,890	)									(35,962	)
Total assets	$	7,828,187									$	7,349,089
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Savings accounts	$	636,603				5,633		0.88	%		$	671,402				1,838		0.27	%
Certificates of deposit		862,211				30,906		3.58	%			579,223				5,659		0.98	%
Interest bearing demand accounts		3,122,319				71,618		2.29	%			3,139,628				21,578		0.69	%
Total interest bearing deposits		4,621,133				108,157		2.34	%			4,390,253				29,075		0.66	%
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings		276,584				6,777		2.45	%			135,926				3,291		2.42	%
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		96,024				3,920		4.08	%			98,604				4,015		4.07	%
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs		60,267				4,504		7.47	%			60,262				2,397		3.98	%
Repurchase agreements		91,132				3,431		3.76	%			29,919				199		0.67	%
Other borrowings		345,544				17,925		5.19	%			47,926				1,663		3.47	%
Total interest bearing liabilities		5,490,684				144,714		2.64	%			4,762,890				40,640		0.85	%
Noninterest bearing deposits		1,485,896										1,712,849
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		97,509										90,988
Total liabilities		7,074,089										6,566,727
Shareholders’ equity		754,098										782,362
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	7,828,187									$	7,349,089
Net interest income (FTE)					$	227,690									$	226,722
Net interest margin (FTE)								3.09	%									3.32	%
Net interest spread (FTE)								2.42	%									3.07	%

^{(1)   Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.
(2)   For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.}

Note: As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, loans totaling $3.9 million and $2.8 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status. Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

Southside Bancshares, Inc.
Non-GAAP Reconciliation (Unaudited)
(Dollars and shares in thousands, except per share data)

The following tables set forth the reconciliation of return on average common equity to return on average tangible common equity, book value per share to tangible book value per share, net interest income to net interest income adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis assuming a 21% marginal tax rate for interest earned on tax-exempt assets such as municipal loans and investment securities, along with the calculation of total revenue, adjusted noninterest expense, efficiency ratio (FTE), net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE) for the applicable periods presented.

		Three Months Ended																				Year Ended
			2023																2022				2023				2022
		Dec 31,				Sep 30,				Jun 30,				Mar 31,				Dec 31,				Dec 31,				Dec 31,
Reconciliation of return on average common equity to return on average tangible common equity:
Net income		$	17,316			$	18,449			$	24,893			$	26,034			$	27,668			$	86,692			$	105,020
After-tax amortization expense			292				322				349				378				407				1,341				1,796
Adjusted net income available to common shareholders		$	17,608			$	18,771			$	25,242			$	26,412			$	28,075			$	88,033			$	106,816
Average shareholders' equity		$	737,675			$	770,194			$	749,827			$	758,750			$	727,752			$	754,098			$	782,362
Less: Average intangibles for the period			(204,267	)			(204,658	)			(205,086	)			(205,555	)			(206,049	)			(204,887	)			(206,889	)
Average tangible shareholders' equity		$	533,408			$	565,536			$	544,741			$	553,195			$	521,703			$	549,211			$	575,473
Return on average tangible common equity			13.10	%			13.17	%			18.59	%			19.36	%			21.35	%			16.03	%			18.56	%
Reconciliation of book value per share to tangible book value per share:
Common equity at end of period		$	773,288			$	728,595			$	765,161			$	751,030			$	745,997			$	773,288			$	745,997
Less: Intangible assets at end of period			(204,041	)			(204,411	)			(204,818	)			(205,260	)			(205,738	)			(204,041	)			(205,738	)
Tangible common shareholders' equity at end of period		$	569,247			$	524,184			$	560,343			$	545,770			$	540,259			$	569,247			$	540,259
Total assets at end of period		$	8,284,914			$	7,972,468			$	7,807,252			$	7,792,345			$	7,558,636			$	8,284,914			$	7,558,636
Less: Intangible assets at end of period			(204,041	)			(204,411	)			(204,818	)			(205,260	)			(205,738	)			(204,041	)			(205,738	)
Tangible assets at end of period		$	8,080,873			$	7,768,057			$	7,602,434			$	7,587,085			$	7,352,898			$	8,080,873			$	7,352,898
Period end tangible equity to period end tangible assets			7.04	%			6.75	%			7.37	%			7.19	%			7.35	%			7.04	%			7.35	%
Common shares outstanding end of period			30,249				30,338				30,532				31,121				31,547				30,249				31,547
Tangible book value per common share		$	18.82			$	17.28			$	18.35			$	17.54			$	17.13			$	18.82			$	17.13
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio to efficiency ratio (FTE), net interest margin to net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread to net interest spread (FTE):
Net interest income (GAAP)		$	54,485			$	53,273			$	53,916			$	53,353			$	56,842			$	215,027			$	212,341
Tax-equivalent adjustments:
Loans			680				674				673				697				744				2,724				2,993
Tax-exempt investment securities			2,453				2,474				2,462				2,550				2,957				9,939				11,388
Net interest income (FTE) (1)			57,618				56,421				57,051				56,600				60,543				227,690				226,722
Noninterest income			2,501				10,836				10,464				12,033				10,766				35,834				40,857
Nonrecurring income (2)			8,376				(11	)			226				(1,221	)			—				7,370				2,982
Total revenue		$	68,495			$	67,246			$	67,741			$	67,412			$	71,309			$	270,894			$	270,561
Noninterest expense		$	35,183			$	35,553			$	34,993			$	34,849			$	33,561			$	140,578			$	130,326
Pre-tax amortization expense			(370	)			(407	)			(442	)			(478	)			(515	)			(1,697	)			(2,273	)
Nonrecurring expense (3)			22				17				36				3				26				78				174
Adjusted noninterest expense		$	34,835			$	35,163			$	34,587			$	34,374			$	33,072			$	138,959			$	128,227
Efficiency ratio			53.30	%			54.86	%			53.54	%			53.57	%			48.92	%			53.81	%			50.05	%
Efficiency ratio (FTE) (1)			50.86	%			52.29	%			51.06	%			50.99	%			46.38	%			51.30	%			47.39	%
Average earning assets		$	7,633,820			$	7,418,157			$	7,225,168			$	7,161,836			$	7,059,115			$	7,361,199			$	6,822,667
Net interest margin			2.83	%			2.85	%			2.99	%			3.02	%			3.19	%			2.92	%			3.11	%
Net interest margin (FTE) (1)			2.99	%			3.02	%			3.17	%			3.21	%			3.40	%			3.09	%			3.32	%
Net interest spread			2.10	%			2.14	%			2.37	%			2.44	%			2.74	%			2.25	%			2.86	%
Net interest spread (FTE) (1)			2.26	%			2.31	%			2.55	%			2.62	%			2.95	%			2.42	%			3.07	%

^{(1)   These amounts are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are non-GAAP measures.
(2)   These adjustments may include net gain or loss on sale of securities available for sale, net gain on sale of equity securities, BOLI income related to death benefits realized and other investment income or loss in the periods where applicable.
(3)   These adjustments may include foreclosure expenses and branch closure expenses, in the periods where applicable.}

FAQ

What was Southside Bancshares, Inc.'s net income for the fourth quarter of 2023?

Southside Bancshares, Inc. reported a net income of $17.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2023.

What was the change in net income for Southside Bancshares, Inc. compared to the same period in 2022?

The net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by $10.4 million, or 37.4%, compared to the same period in 2022.

What was the earnings per diluted common share for Southside Bancshares, Inc. for the fourth quarter of 2023?

The earnings per diluted common share for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $0.57.

What was the annualized return on fourth quarter average tangible common equity for Southside Bancshares, Inc.?

The annualized return on fourth quarter average tangible common equity was 13.10%.

What was the percentage of nonperforming assets to total assets for Southside Bancshares, Inc.?

Nonperforming assets remain low at 0.05% of total assets.

What was the change in net interest income for Southside Bancshares, Inc. compared to the same period in 2022?

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased by $1.2 million compared to the same period in 2022.

What was the change in noninterest income for Southside Bancshares, Inc. compared to the same period in 2022?

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by $8.3 million, or 76.8%, compared to the same period in 2022.

What was the change in net interest margin for Southside Bancshares, Inc. compared to the same period in 2022?

Net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased to 2.83% compared to 3.19% for the same period in 2022.

What was the change in loans for Southside Bancshares, Inc. compared to the previous quarter?

Loans increased $103.9 million, or 2.3%, compared to the previous quarter.

What was the change in deposits for Southside Bancshares, Inc. compared to the previous quarter?

Deposits increased $200.1 million, or 3.2%, compared to the previous quarter.

What was the change in nonperforming assets for Southside Bancshares, Inc. compared to the previous quarter?

Nonperforming assets decreased from $4.4 million at September 30, 2023 to $4.0 million at December 31, 2023.

What was the cash dividend declared by Southside Bancshares, Inc. for the fourth quarter of 2023?

Southside Bancshares, Inc. declared a fourth quarter cash dividend of $0.35 per share and a special cash dividend of $0.02 per share on November 2, 2023.