German American Bancorp, Inc. (GABC) Reports Strong Second Quarter 2024 Earnings

JASPER, Ind., July 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- German American Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: GABC) reported strong second quarter earnings of $20.5 million, or $0.69 per share. This level of quarterly earnings reflected a linked quarter increase of $1.5 million, or approximately 8% on a per share basis, from 2024 first quarter earnings of $19 million or $0.64 per share.

Second quarter 2024 operating performance was highlighted by a stabilized net interest margin, solid loan and deposit growth, continued strong credit metrics, growth in most non-interest income categories and controlled non-interest expense. As previously reported, the Company also sold the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiary, German American Insurance, Inc., during the second quarter, for $40.0 million (or approximately 4x the subsidiary’s 2023 revenue) in an all-cash transaction, resulting in a $27.5 million after-tax gain. In addition, the Company subsequently commenced a restructuring of its securities portfolio by selling securities, representing approximately $375 million in book value, at an after-tax loss of $27.2 million. With its strong second quarter 2024 operating performance, the Company remained well-positioned at the end of second quarter 2024 with continued solid liquidity and strong capital ratios.

The Company views certain non-operating items, like the German American Insurance sale and the restructuring of the securities portfolio, as being unrepresentative of the Company’s core operating performance. As such, the Company generally considers those items as adjustments to net income reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Nonetheless, as a result of these two transactions, second quarter 2024 net income, on a combined basis, was positively impacted by only $0.3 million.

Net interest margin for the second quarter of 2024 was relatively stable at 3.34%, compared to linked first quarter 2024 net interest margin of 3.35%, as the earning asset yield increase of 12 basis points mostly kept pace with the funding cost increase of 13 basis points. The cost of funds in the second quarter of 2024 continued to increase at a pace similar to that of first quarter 2024, driven by continued competitive deposit pricing in the marketplace and ongoing re-mixing of the Company’s deposit composition as customers continued to move into time and money market accounts seeking higher yields.

Second quarter 2024 deposits increased approximately $94 million, or approximately 7% on an annualized basis, compared to first quarter 2024. Non-interest-bearing accounts remained at a healthy 27% of total deposits.

During the second quarter of 2024, total loans increased $65 million, or approximately 7% on an annualized basis, with virtually all categories of loans showing growth. The Company’s loan portfolio composition remained diverse with little commercial real estate office concentration. Credit metrics remained strong as non-performing assets were 0.12% of period end assets and non-performing loans totaled 0.18% of period end loans.

Non-interest income for the second quarter of 2024, compared with the first quarter of 2024, excluding any impact related to the insurance sale and the securities portfolio restructuring, reflected solid growth in most categories, highlighted by an increase in wealth management fees of approximately 12% attributable to increased assets under management and improving capital markets; increased interchange fee income of approximately 8% driven by increased customer card utilization; and increased net gain on sale of loans of approximately 29% driven by higher mortgage sales volume.

Excluding professional fees associated with both the sale of the insurance subsidiary and the recently announced pending merger transaction with Heartland BancCorp, the Company’s operating expenses for the second quarter of 2024 remained well-controlled.

The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share, which will be payable on August 20, 2024, to shareholders of record as of August 10, 2024.

D. Neil Dauby, German American’s Chairman & CEO stated, “We are extremely pleased to deliver a strong second quarter operating performance. In addition, the Company executed on several key strategic initiatives with the sale of its insurance subsidiary and the partial restructuring of our securities portfolio.” In a separate news release, German American also announced today its proposed merger with Heartland BancCorp. Heartland Bank is a premier community bank operating within the high growth markets of Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio. Dauby added, “This strategic partnership coupled with our balance sheet repositioning will build on our strong quarterly operating performance and position our Company for improved profitability and future success.”

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets for the Company totaled $6.217 billion at June 30, 2024, representing an increase of $105.0 million compared with March 31, 2024 and an increase of $163.7 million compared with June 30, 2023. The increase in total assets at June 30, 2024 compared with both March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2023 was largely related to an increase in total loans and fed funds sold and other short-term investments, partially offset by a decline in the securities portfolio.

Securities available-for-sale declined $165.5 million as of June 30, 2024 compared with March 31, 2024 and declined $226.9 million compared with June 30, 2023. The decline at June 30, 2024 in the available-for-sale securities portfolio compared with the end of the first quarter of 2024 and the end of the second quarter of 2023 was largely the result of the Company’s utilization of cash flows from the securities portfolio to fund loan growth in addition to the timing of the sale and reinvestment of proceeds related to the restructuring transaction.

During June 2024, the Company commenced a securities portfolio restructuring transaction whereby available-for-sale securities totaling approximately $375 million in book value were identified to be sold. As of June 30, 2024, $175 million of securities had been sold with the remaining $200 million sold during early July 2024. The tax-equivalent yield on the bonds sold was approximately 3.12% with a duration of approximately 7 years. Approximately $80 million of the proceeds of the securities sold were reinvested as of June 30, 2024. It is anticipated the remainder of the proceeds from the sale will be reinvested back into the securities portfolio.

June 30, 2024 total loans increased $65.3 million, or 7% on an annualized basis, compared with March 31, 2024 and increased $213.8 million, or 6%, compared with June 30, 2023. The increase during the second quarter of 2024 compared with March 31, 2024 was broad-based across most segments of the portfolio. Commercial and industrial loans increased $18.3 million, or 11% on an annualized basis, commercial real estate loans increased $23.6 million, or 4% on an annualized basis, while agricultural loans grew $13.0 million, or 13% on an annualized basis, and retail loans grew by $10.4 million, or 5% on an annualized basis.

The composition of the loan portfolio has remained relatively stable and diversified over the past several years, including 2024. The portfolio is most heavily concentrated in commercial real estate loans at 54% of the portfolio, followed by commercial and industrial loans at 16% of the portfolio, and agricultural loans at 10% of the portfolio. The Company’s commercial lending is extended to various industries, including multi-family housing and lodging, agribusiness and manufacturing, as well as health care, wholesale, and retail services. The Company’s commercial real estate portfolio has limited exposure to office real estate, with office exposure totaling approximately 4% of the total loan portfolio.

The Company’s allowance for credit losses totaled $43.9 million at June 30, 2024, $43.8 million at March 31, 2024 and $44.3 million at June 30, 2023. The allowance for credit losses represented 1.09% of period-end loans at June 30, 2024, 1.10% of period-end loans at March 31, 2024 and 1.16% of period-end loans at June 30, 2023.

Non-performing assets totaled $7.3 million at June 30, 2024, $10.0 million at March 31, 2024 and $12.4 million at June 30, 2023. Non-performing assets represented 0.12% of total assets at June 30, 2024, 0.16% at March 31, 2024 and 0.21% at June 30, 2023. Non-performing loans represented 0.18% of total loans at June 30, 2024, 0.25% at March 31, 2024 and 0.32% at June 30, 2023.

June 30, 2024 total deposits increased $94.2 million, or 7% on an annualized basis, compared to March 31, 2024 and increased $133.9 million, or 3%, compared with June 30, 2023. The increase at June 30, 2024 compared to March 31, 2024 was largely attributable to seasonal inflows of public entity funds. The Company has continued to see customer movement from both interest bearing and non-interest bearing transactional accounts to time deposits due primarily to a higher interest rate environment. Non-interest bearing deposits have remained relatively stable as a percent of total deposits with June 30, 2024 non-interest deposits totaling 27% of total deposits while non-interest deposits totaled 28% of total deposits at March 31, 2024 and 30% at June 30, 2023.

At June 30, 2024, the capital levels for the Company and its subsidiary bank, German American Bank (the “Bank”), remained well in excess of the minimum amounts needed for capital adequacy purposes and the Bank’s capital levels met the necessary requirements to be considered well-capitalized.

Results of Operations Highlights – Quarter ended June 30, 2024

Net income for the second quarter of 2024 totaled $20,530,000, or $0.69 per share, an increase of 8% on a per share basis, compared with the first quarter of 2024 net income of $19,022,000, or $0.64 per share, and a decline of 8% on a per share basis compared with the second quarter 2023 net income of $22,123,000, or $0.75 per share.

Net income for the second quarter of 2024 was impacted by the previously announced completion of the sale of the assets of its wholly-owned subsidiary German American Insurance, Inc. (“GAI”) to Hilb Group, an industry-leading insurance broker. The all-cash transaction sale price totaled $40 million, and resulted in an after-tax gain, net of transaction costs, of approximately $27,476,000, or $0.93 per share.

Net income for the second quarter of 2024 was also impacted by the aforementioned securities portfolio restructuring transaction whereby available securities totaling approximately $375 million in book value were identified to be sold. The approximate loss on these securities totaled $34,893,000, $27,189,000 after tax, or $0.92 per share, and was included in earnings for the second quarter of 2024.

During the second quarter of 2024, net interest income, on a non tax-equivalent basis, totaled $45,971,000, an increase of $977,000, or 2%, compared to the first quarter of 2024 net interest income of $44,994,000 and a decline of $2,287,000, or 5%, compared to the second quarter of 2023 net interest income of $48,258,000.

The increase in net interest income during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 was primarily driven by a higher level of average earning assets and a relatively stable net interest margin. The higher level of earning assets during the second quarter of 2024 was driven by both loan growth and a higher level of other short-term investments driven by a seasonal increase in deposits. The decline in net interest income during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the second quarter of 2023 was primarily attributable to a decline in the Company’s net interest margin.

The tax-equivalent net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 was 3.34% compared with 3.35% in the first quarter of 2024 and 3.63% in the second quarter of 2023. The decline in the net interest margin during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the second quarter of 2023 was largely driven by an increase in the cost of funds. The cost of funds has continued to move higher over the past year, including the second quarter of 2024, due to competitive deposit pricing in the marketplace, customers actively looking for yield opportunities within and outside the banking industry, and a continued shift in the Company’s deposit composition to a higher level of time deposits.

The previously described securities portfolio restructuring transaction did not have a meaningful impact on the second quarter of 2024 net interest income or net interest margin as the transaction commenced in the latter part of June 2024. The Company expects the securities restructuring to result in an improved yield of approximately 2%, on a tax-equivalent basis, on the securities sold compared with the reinvestment of the proceeds into the securities portfolio.

The Company’s net interest margin and net interest income have been impacted by accretion of loan discounts on acquired loans. Accretion of discounts on acquired loans totaled $275,000 during the second quarter of 2024, $360,000 during the first quarter of 2024 and $716,000 during the second quarter of 2023. Accretion of loan discounts on acquired loans contributed approximately 2 basis points to the net interest margin in the second quarter of 2024, 3 basis points in the first quarter of 2024 and 5 basis points in the second quarter of 2023.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $625,000 compared with a provision of $900,000 in the first quarter of 2024 and a provision for credit losses of $550,000 during the second quarter of 2023. Net charge-offs totaled $433,000, or 4 basis points on an annualized basis, of average loans outstanding during the second quarter of 2024 compared with $911,000, or 9 basis points on an annualized basis, of average loans during the first quarter of 2024 and compared with $599,000, or 6 basis points, of average loans during the second quarter of 2023.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, non-interest income totaled $18,923,000, an increase of $3,101,000 or 20%, compared with the first quarter of 2024 and an increase of $4,027,000, or 27%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The second quarter of 2024 non-interest income was positively impacted by approximately $38,323,000 related to the net proceeds of the sale of the GAI assets and negatively impacted by $34,893,000 related to the net loss recognized on the securities restructuring transaction.

Wealth management fees increased $417,000, or 12%, during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 and increased $871,000, or 30%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The increase during the second quarter of 2024 was largely attributable to increased assets under management due to healthy capital markets and strong new business results compared with both the first quarter of 2024 and second quarter of 2023.

Insurance revenues declined $1,372,000, or 48%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2024, compared with the first quarter of 2024 and declined $624,000, or 29%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The decline during the second quarter of 2024 compared with both the first quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2023 was the result of the sale of the assets of GAI effective June 1, 2024, with only two months of revenue being recognized by the Company during the second quarter of 2024. In addition, the second quarter of 2024 was lower than the first quarter of 2024 due to contingency revenue of $4,000 during the second quarter of 2024 compared with $391,000 during the first quarter of 2024. Typically, the majority of contingency revenue is recognized during the first quarter of the year.

Interchange fee income increased $317,000, or 8%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 and remained relatively flat declining $8,000, or less than 1%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The increase during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 was largely related to a seasonally higher level of customer transaction volume.

Other operating income increased $38,174,000 during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 and increased $38,074,000 compared with the second quarter of 2023. The increase during the second quarter of 2024 non-interest income compared to both periods was the result of the approximately $38,323,000 in net proceeds of the sale of the GAI assets during the second quarter of 2024.

Net gains on sales of loans increased $218,000, or 29%, during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 and increased $339,000, or 54%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The increase during the second quarter of 2024 compared with both the first quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2023 was largely related to a higher volume of sales. Loan sales totaled $33.0 million during the second quarter of 2024 compared with $24.0 million during the first quarter of 2024 and $24.8 million during the second quarter of 2023.

The net loss on securities during the second quarter of 2024 totaled $34,893,000 related to the net loss recognized on the securities restructuring transaction previously discussed.

During the quarter ended June 30, 2024, non-interest expense totaled $37,674,000, an increase of $936,000, or 3%, compared with the first quarter of 2024, and an increase of $1,948,000, or 5%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The increase in non-interest expenses during the second quarter of 2024 was primarily the result of professional fees related to the GAI asset sale and the recently announced pending merger transaction with Heartland BancCorp (“Heartland”), which totaled approximately $1,904,000.

Salaries and benefits declined $221,000, or 1%, during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 and increased $854,000, or 4%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The decline in salaries and benefits during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 was primarily due to a lower level of full-time equivalent employees resulting from the sale of the assets of GAI during the second quarter of 2024. The increase in salaries and benefits for the second quarter of 2024 compared with the same period of 2023 was primarily related to an increase in costs of incentive compensation plans.

Occupancy, furniture and equipment expense declined $317,000, or 8%, during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 and increased $44,000, or 1%, compared to the second quarter of 2023. The decline during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 was largely due to lower property tax assessments and lower seasonal utilities costs.

Data processing fees increased $208,000, or 7%, during the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 and increased $216,000, or 8%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The increase during the second quarter of 2024 compared with both the first quarter of 2024 and second quarter of 2023 was largely driven by costs associated with enhancements to the Company’s digital banking systems.

Professional fees increased $1,867,000, or 117%, in the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2024 and increased $1,848,000, or 115%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The increase during the second quarter of 2024 compared with both the first quarter of 2024 and second quarter of 2023 was largely attributable to the professional fees associated with the sale of assets of GAI and the recently announced pending merger transaction with Heartland totaling $1,904,000.

Advertising and promotion expense declined $229,000, or 20%, in the second quarter of 2024 compared with the first quarter of 2023 and declined $352,000, or 28%, compared with the second quarter of 2023. The decline during the second quarter of 2024 compared with both the first quarter of 2024 and the second quarter of 2023 was largely attributable to the timing of sponsorships and contributions to organizations within the Company’s markets.

About German American

German American Bancorp, Inc. is a Nasdaq-listed (symbol: GABC) financial holding company based in Jasper, Indiana. German American, through its banking subsidiary German American Bank, operates 74 banking offices in 20 contiguous southern Indiana counties and 14 counties in Kentucky.

Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It

The proposed merger of Heartland BancCorp (“Heartland”) with and into German American Bancorp, Inc. (“German American”) will be submitted to both the German American and Heartland shareholders for their consideration. In connection with the proposed merger, German American will file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that will include a joint proxy statement for German American and Heartland and a prospectus for German American and other relevant documents concerning the proposed merger. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE CORRESPONDING JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You will be able to obtain a copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus once filed, as well as other filings containing information about German American, without charge, at the SEC’s website () or by accessing German American’s website () under the tab “Investor Relations” and then under the heading “Financial Information”. Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Bradley C. Arnett, Investor Relations, German American Bancorp, Inc., 711 Main Street, Box 810, Jasper, Indiana 47546, telephone 812-482-1314 or to Jennifer Eckert, Investor Relations, Heartland BancCorp, 430 North Hamilton Road, Whitehall, Ohio 43213, telephone 614-337-4600.

German American and Heartland and certain of their directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of German American and Heartland in connection with the proposed merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of German American is set forth in the proxy statement for German American’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders, as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A on March 21, 2024, which information has been updated by German American from time to time in subsequent filings with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of Heartland will be set forth in the joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed merger. Additional information about the interests of those participants and other persons who may be deemed participants in the transaction may also be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed merger when it becomes available. Free copies of this document may be obtained as described above.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be deemed “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned that, by their nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of words like “believe”, “continue”, “pattern”, “estimate”, “project”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “expect” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “would”, “should”, “could”, “might”, “can”, “may”, or similar expressions.

These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to German American’s goals, intentions and expectations; statements regarding German American’s business plan and growth strategies; statements regarding the asset quality of German American’s loan and investment portfolios; and the expected timing and benefits of the Merger, including future financial and operating results, cost savings, enhanced revenues, and accretion/dilution to reported earnings that may be realized from the Merger; and estimates of German American’s risks and future costs and benefits, whether with respect to the Merger or otherwise.

Actual results and experience could differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including but not limited to, those discussed in this press release. Factors that could cause actual experience to differ from the expectations expressed or implied in this press release include:

1. changes in interest rates and the timing and magnitude of any such changes;
2. unfavorable economic conditions, including a prolonged period of inflation, and the resulting adverse impact on, among other things, credit quality;
3. the soundness of other financial institutions and general investor sentiment regarding the stability of financial institutions;
   
   
4. changes in our liquidity position;
   
   
5. the impacts of epidemics, pandemics or other infectious disease outbreaks;
   
   
6. changes in competitive conditions;
   
   
7. the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of asset/liability management strategies or of mergers and acquisitions and other business initiatives and strategies;
   
   
8. changes in customer borrowing, repayment, investment and deposit practices;
   
   
9. changes in fiscal, monetary and tax policies;
   
   
10. changes in financial and capital markets;
    
    
11. capital management activities, including possible future sales of new securities, or possible repurchases or redemptions by German American of outstanding debt or equity securities;
    
    
12. risks of expansion through acquisitions and mergers, such as unexpected credit quality problems of the acquired loans or other assets, unexpected attrition of the customer base or employee base of the acquired institution or branches, and difficulties in integration of the acquired operations;   
    
    
13. factors driving credit losses on investments;
    
    
14. the impact, extent and timing of technological changes;
    
    
15. potential cyber-attacks, information security breaches and other criminal activities;
    
    
16. litigation liabilities, including related costs, expenses, settlements and judgments, or the outcome of matters before regulatory agencies, whether pending or commencing in the future;
    
    
17. actions of the Federal Reserve Board;
    
    
18. changes in accounting principles and interpretations;
    
    
19. potential increases of federal deposit insurance premium expense, and possible future special assessments of FDIC premiums, either industry wide or specific to German American’s banking subsidiary;
    
    
20. actions of the regulatory authorities under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and other possible legislative and regulatory actions and reforms;
    
    
21. impacts resulting from possible amendments or revisions to the Dodd-Frank Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules and regulations;
    
    
22. the continued availability of earnings and excess capital sufficient for the lawful and prudent declaration and payment of cash dividends;
    
    
23. with respect to the Merger: (i) failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals when expected or at all (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the transaction), or the failure of either company to satisfy any of the other closing conditions to the transaction on a timely basis or at all; (ii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the right of one or both of the parties to terminate the merger agreement; and (iii) the possibility that the anticipated benefits of the transaction, including anticipated cost savings and strategic gains, are not realized when expected or at all, including as a result of the impact of, or problems arising from, the integration of the two companies, unexpected credit quality problems of the acquired loans or other assets, or unexpected attrition of the customer base of the acquired institution or branches, or as a result of the strength of the economy, competitive factors in the areas where German American and Heartland do business, or as a result of other unexpected factors or events; and
    
    
24. other risk factors expressly identified in German American’s cautionary language included under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements and Associated Risk” and “Risk Factors” in German American’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and other documents subsequently filed by German American with the SEC.
    
    

Such statements reflect our views with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity of German American. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. It is intended that these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For additional information, contact:

D. Neil Dauby, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Bradley M Rust, President and Chief Financial Officer

(812) 482-1314