BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / July 26, 2022 / Investar Holding Corporation ("Investar") (NASDAQ:ISTR), the holding company for Investar Bank, National Association (the "Bank"), today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Investar reported net income of $9.4 million, or $0.92 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2022, compared to net income of $10.1 million, or $0.97 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, and net income of $5.7 million, or $0.53 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

On a non-GAAP basis, core earnings per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2022 were $0.62 compared to $0.68 for the first quarter of 2022 and $0.53 for the second quarter of 2021. Core earnings exclude certain non-operating items including, but not limited to, gain on call or sale of investment securities, change in the fair value of equity securities, swap termination fee income, and acquisition expense (refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics).

Investar's President and Chief Executive Officer John D'Angelo said:

"I am extremely pleased with our second quarter results. We experienced strong organic loan growth of 2.6%, or 10.4% annualized. Our credit quality metrics improved as our nonperforming loans decreased by $8.7 million and now represent 0.89% of total loans compared to 1.37% in the first quarter. Our core efficiency ratio also improved in the second quarter as we continue to see the results of our digital transformation and closely monitor operating expenses. In April 2022, we completed the private placement of $20.0 million of subordinated debt, the proceeds of which we used to redeem $18.6 million of our 2017 subordinated notes. Some of the additional proceeds were used to repurchase Investar stock. As always, we remain focused on long-term shareholder value. We repurchased 304,671 shares of our common stock at an average price of $19.85 during the second quarter and increased our quarterly dividend by 6% compared to the first quarter dividend.

Our efficiency efforts continued as we completed the consolidation of two additional branches during the second quarter. We also sold two former branch locations, as well as a tract of land that we held for a potential future branch location. Additionally, the Bank entered into an agreement with First Community Bank in Corpus Christi, Texas for the sale of our south Texas branches, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023. We expect that the sale will permit us to focus more on our core markets. Of the Bank's entire branch network, these two locations are geographically the most distant from our Louisiana headquarters. We believe our south Texas customers will be well-served by First Community Bank following completion of the sale."

Second Quarter Highlights

Loans

Total loans were $1.92 billion at June 30, 2022, an increase of $39.0 million, or 2.1%, compared to March 31, 2022, and a decrease of $31.4 million, or 1.6%, compared to June 30, 2021.

The following table sets forth the composition of the total loan portfolio as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

In the second quarter of 2020, the Bank began participating as a lender in the PPP as established by the CARES Act. The PPP loans are generally 100% guaranteed by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"), have an interest rate of 1%, and are eligible to be forgiven based on certain criteria, with the SBA remitting any applicable forgiveness amount to the lender. At June 30, 2022, the balance of the Bank's PPP loans, which is included in the commercial and industrial portfolio, was $3.5 million, compared to $13.2 million at March 31, 2022 and $73.0 million at June 30, 2021. At June 30, 2022, approximately 98% of the total balance of PPP loans originated have been forgiven by the SBA or paid off by the customer.

At June 30, 2022, Investar's total business lending portfolio, which consists of loans secured by owner-occupied commercial real estate properties and commercial and industrial loans, was $784.1 million, an increase of $33.2 million, or 4.4%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $750.9 million at March 31, 2022, and a decrease of $24.7 million, or 3.1%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $808.8 million at June 30, 2021. The increase in the business lending portfolio compared to March 31, 2022 is primarily driven by increased loan production by our Commercial and Industrial Division, slightly offset by the forgiveness of PPP loans. The decrease in the business lending portfolio compared to June 30, 2021 is driven by the forgiveness of PPP loans.

Nonowner-occupied loans totaled $451.1 million at June 30, 2022, a decrease of $20.3 million, or 4.3%, compared to $471.4 million at March 31, 2022, and an increase of $6.0 million, or 1.3%, compared to $445.1 million at June 30, 2021. The decrease in nonowner-occupied loans compared to March 31, 2022 is mainly attributable to management's recent strategy to decrease concentration levels of individual borrowing relationships. The increase in nonowner-occupied loans compared to June 30, 2021 is due to organic growth.

Credit Quality

Nonperforming loans were $17.0 million, or 0.89% of total loans, at June 30, 2022, a decrease of $8.7 million compared to $25.7 million, or 1.37% of total loans, at March 31, 2022, and a decrease of $3.9 million compared to $20.9 million, or 1.07% of total loans, at June 30, 2021. The decrease in nonperforming loans compared to March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021 is mainly attributable to a large paydown on the loan relationship that was impaired as a result of Hurricane Ida in the third quarter of 2021, as well as continued efforts to reduce our exposure to one commercial and industrial oil and gas loan relationship during the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Included in nonperforming loans are acquired loans with a balance of $2.3 million at June 30, 2022, or 13% of nonperforming loans.

The allowance for loan losses was $22.0 million, or 128.9% and 1.15% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at June 30, 2022, compared to $21.1 million, or 82.1% and 1.12%, respectively, at March 31, 2022, and $20.4 million, or 97.8% and 1.05%, respectively, at June 30, 2021.

We recorded a provision for loan losses of $0.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to a negative provision for loan losses of $0.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and a provision for loan losses of $0.1 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The increases in the provision for loan losses compared to the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021, are primarily attributable to the changes in incremental loan growth. The negative provision for loan losses for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was driven by net recoveries of $0.7 million in the loan portfolio during the period.

Deposits

Total deposits at June 30, 2022 were $2.06 billion, a decrease of $123.3 million, or 5.6%, compared to $2.19 billion at March 31, 2022, and a decrease of $197.5 million, or 8.7%, compared to $2.26 billion at June 30, 2021. The decrease in deposits compared to March 31, 2022 is due to increased consumer spending, as customers drew down on their existing deposit accounts. The decrease in deposits compared to June 30, 2021 is driven by management's decision to run-off higher yielding time deposits and the elimination of brokered deposits, which the Bank has historically used to satisfy required borrowings under its interest rate swap agreements.

Beginning in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic created a significant amount of excess liquidity in the market, and, as a result, we experienced large increases in both noninterest and interest-bearing demand deposits, and in money market deposit accounts and savings accounts during 2020 and 2021. These increases were primarily driven by reduced consumer and business spending related to the COVID-19 pandemic and increases in some PPP borrowers' deposit accounts. As anticipated, these conditions were temporary in nature as the economy has been slowly recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following table sets forth the composition of deposits as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2022 totaled $22.0 million, an increase of $0.2 million, or 0.7%, compared to the first quarter of 2022, and an increase of $0.8 million, or 3.8%, compared to the second quarter of 2021. Included in net interest income for the quarters ended June 30, 2022, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021 is $0.2 million, $0.2 million, and $0.5 million, respectively, of interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Also included in net interest income for the quarters ended June 30, 2022, March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021 are interest recoveries of $36,000, $0.2 million, and $25,000, respectively.

Investar's net interest margin was 3.70% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to 3.75% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and 3.48% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was driven by a 100 basis point increase in the cost of short-term borrowings used to finance loan and investment activity and an increase in the cost and average balance of long-term debt. The increase in net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 was driven by an increase in the yield and average balances of taxable investment securities and a 27 basis point decrease in the cost of deposits.

The yield on interest-earning assets was 4.09% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to 4.10% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and 4.00% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was primarily attributable to lower loan yields, driven by prepayment penalties of $0.6 million which added 12 basis points to the yield on the loan portfolio during the quarter ended March 31, 2022, offset partially by a large increase in the yield earned on investment securities during the quarter ended June 30, 2022. The increase in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 was primarily driven by an 81 basis point increase in the yield on taxable investment securities, partially offset by lower loan yields.

Exclusive of PPP loans, which had an average balance of $7.7 million and related interest and fee income of $0.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to an average balance of $19.5 million and related interest and fee income of $0.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and an average balance of $96.0 million and related interest and fee income of $1.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, adjusted net interest margin was 3.65% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to an adjusted net interest margin of 3.71% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and 3.41% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. Included in PPP interest and fee income for the quarters ended June 30, 2022, March 31, 2022, and June 30, 2021 is $0.3 million, $0.3 million, and $0.6 million, respectively, of accelerated fee income recognized due to the forgiveness or pay-off of PPP loans. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.

Exclusive of the interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans, interest recoveries, accelerated fee income recognized due to the forgiveness or pay-off of PPP loans, and the $0.6 million of prepayment penalty fees recognized during the first quarter of 2022, all discussed above, adjusted net interest margin increased to 3.61% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to 3.53% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, and 3.29% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The adjusted yield on interest-earning assets was 4.01% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to 3.88% and 3.82% for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.

The cost of deposits decreased one basis point to 0.24% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to 0.25% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and decreased 27 basis points compared to 0.51% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2022 reflects the decrease in rates paid for time deposits. The decrease in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 reflects the decrease in rates paid for all categories of interest-bearing deposits.

The overall cost of funds for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 increased seven basis points to 0.55% compared to 0.48% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and decreased 15 basis points compared to 0.70% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The increase in the cost of funds for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2022 resulted from higher average balances and increased cost of borrowings. In April 2022, Investar completed the private placement of $20.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.125% Fixed-to-Floating Subordinated Notes due 2032. In June 2022, Investar used the majority of the proceeds to redeem $18.6 million of its 6.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2027 (the "2027 Notes"), which will prospectively reduce our total quarterly interest expense on long-term debt by $0.2 million when compared to the second quarter of 2022. The Company expects to utilize the remaining proceeds for share repurchases and general corporate purposes.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2022 totaled $6.4 million, an increase of $0.5 million, or 8.7%, compared to the first quarter of 2022 and an increase of $2.3 million, or 56.2%, compared to the second quarter of 2021. The increase in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was driven by a $1.4 million increase in swap termination fees. This increase was slightly offset by a loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets of $0.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, resulting from the consolidation of two branch locations, compared to a gain on sale or disposition of fixed assets of $0.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The increase in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 is mainly attributable to $4.7 million in swap termination fees recorded during the second quarter of 2022, partially offset by a $0.5 million loss on sale or disposition of fixed assets in the same period and $1.7 million in gain on call or sale of investment securities recorded in the second quarter of 2021.

Swap termination fees of $4.7 million and $3.3 million were recorded for the quarters ended June 30, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively, when Investar voluntarily terminated a number of its interest rate swap agreements in response to market conditions. Investar had no current or forward starting interest rate swap contracts as of June 30, 2022.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2022 totaled $15.6 million, an increase of $0.1 million, or 0.8%, compared to the first quarter of 2022, and a decrease of $2.4 million, or 13.4%, compared to the second quarter of 2021. The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was driven by $0.2 million in loss on early extinguishment of subordinated debt resulting from the early redemption of the 2027 Notes, and an increase of $0.1 million in both professional fees and occupancy expense, partially offset by a $0.3 million decrease in data processing. The decrease in noninterest expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 is primarily a result of $1.6 million in acquisition expenses related to the April 2021 acquisition of Cheaha Financial Group recorded in the second quarter of 2021 and a $0.9 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits. The decrease in salaries and employee benefits compared to the second quarter of 2021 is primarily due to a decrease in full-time equivalent employees as well as two unfavorable health claims recorded in the second quarter of 2021.

Taxes

Investar recorded an income tax expense of $2.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, which equates to an effective tax rate of 20.7%, compared to effective tax rates of 20.5% and 20.7% for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively.

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

Investar reported basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.92 for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, compared to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.98 and $0.97, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, and basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.54 and $0.53, respectively, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021.

About Investar Holding Corporation

Investar, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, provides full banking services, excluding trust services, through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Investar Bank, National Association. The Bank currently operates 31 branch locations serving Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. At June 30, 2022, the Bank had 335 full-time equivalent employees and total assets of $2.6 billion.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. These measures and ratios include "tangible common equity," "tangible assets," "tangible equity to tangible assets," "tangible book value per common share," "core noninterest income," "core earnings before noninterest expense," "core noninterest expense," "core earnings before income tax expense," "core income tax expense," "core earnings," "core efficiency ratio," "core return on average assets," "core return on average equity," "core basic earnings per share," and "core diluted earnings per share." We also present certain average loan, yield, net interest income and net interest margin data adjusted to show the effects of excluding PPP loans, accelerated fee income for PPP loans, interest recoveries, interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans, and prepayment penalty fees. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide information useful to investors in understanding Investar's financial results, and Investar believes that its presentation, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting Investar's business and allow investors to view performance in a manner similar to management, the entire financial services sector, bank stock analysts and bank regulators. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and Investar strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this press release to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect Investar's current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Investar generally identifies forward-looking statements by terminology such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "could," "should," "seeks," "approximately," "predicts," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates," or the negative version of those words or other comparable words.

Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the historical performance of Investar and its subsidiaries or on Investar's current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by Investar that the future plans, estimates or expectations by Investar will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to Investar's operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Investar's underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, Investar's actual results may vary materially from those indicated in these statements. Investar does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, any one or more of which could materially affect the outcome of future events:

These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors can be found in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" and in the "Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Item 7. "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Investar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

For further information contact:
Investar Holding Corporation
Chris Hufft
Chief Financial Officer
(225) 227-2215
Chris.Hufft@investarbank.com

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