CSB Bancorp, Inc. Reports First Quarter Earnings

MILLERSBURG, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CSB Bancorp, Inc. (OTC Pink: CSBB):

First Quarter Highlights

		Quarter Ended March 31, 2023					Quarter Ended March 31, 2022
Diluted earnings per share		$	1.46				$	0.99
Net Income		$	3,934,000				$	2,701,000
Return on average common equity			16.39	%				11.26	%
Return on average assets			1.39	%				0.96	%

CSB Bancorp, Inc. (OTC Pink: CSBB) today announced first quarter 2023 net income of $3,934,000, or $1.46 per basic and diluted share, as compared to $2,701,000, or $0.99 per basic and diluted share, for the same period in 2022. Income before federal income tax amounted to $4,905,000, an increase of 47% over the same quarter in the prior year.

Annualized returns on average common equity ("ROE") and average assets ("ROA") for the quarter were 16.39% and 1.39%, respectively, compared with 11.26% and 0.96% for the first quarter of 2022.

Eddie Steiner, President and CEO stated, "The balance sheet remains strong, with adequate capital and liquidity to respond to foreseeable loan and depositor needs and to fund the Company's ongoing projects. Net interest income has trended upward, spurred by continuing growth in loan balances and the higher rate environment. Credit quality within earning asset portfolios remains high. We anticipate some slowing of the general economy in coming quarters as higher interest rates curtail consumer and business spending, and employment levels to soften as employers calibrate operating costs to match the economic environment."

Net interest income and noninterest income totaled $10.6 million during the quarter, an increase of $2.1 million from the prior year's first quarter. Net interest income increased $2.1 million, or 31%, in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

Loan interest income including fees increased $2.2 million, or 38%, during first quarter 2023 as compared to the same quarter in 2022. The increase was mainly due to rate increases as well as a $77 million increase in average loan volume. Securities interest income increased $722 thousand, or 52%, during the first quarter 2023 compared to the same quarter 2022 from both rate and volume increases. Loan yields for first quarter 2023 averaged 5.07%, an increase of 88 basis points from the 2022 first quarter average of 4.19%, while security yields for first quarter 2023 averaged 2.18% compared to 1.60% in the first quarter 2022.

Interest expense rose $1.3 million, or 341%, during first quarter 2023 as compared to first quarter 2022. The increase follows a period of rapid interest rate increases spurred by the Federal Reserve followed by competitive pressures from banks and others to secure adequate funding. The cost of interest bearing liabilities for the first quarter 2023 was 0.95% as compared to 0.22% for the first quarter of 2022. Interest expense increases are anticipated to continue in 2023 but are not forecast to grow at 2022 levels.

The fully taxable equivalent (FTE) net interest margin was 3.37% compared to 2.60% for first quarter 2022. Compared to the 2022 first quarter, FTE net interest income increased $2.1 million, or 30%, reflecting 77 basis points of net interest margin expansion, and a $5 million, or less than 1%, increase in average earning assets. The higher interest rate environment drove the increase in yields coupled with loan and security volume growth, partially offset by the higher cost of funds and lower loan fees from the Paycheck Protection Program. The tax equivalency effect on the margin was 0.01% in first quarter 2023 and 0.02% in first quarter 2022.

Noninterest income decreased 1%, compared to first quarter of 2022. The decrease was primarily the result of a $115 thousand, or 98%, decline in gain on sale of mortgages to the secondary market, as higher interest rates sharply curbed fixed rate purchase and refinancing originations, along with a lack of housing inventory for sale. Offsetting increases were recognized in service charges on deposit accounts, debit card interchange fees, and credit card fee income.

Noninterest expense increased 5% from first quarter 2022. Salary and employee benefit costs increased $139 thousand, or 4%, compared to the prior year quarter, primarily resulting from increases in compensation and benefits partially offset by less FTE's. Software expense increased $66 thousand, or 20%, with the deployment of new reporting software and upgrades. Professional and directors' fees increased $45 thousand, or 16% primarily reflecting an increase in audit, tax and accounting fees in 2023. Marketing and public relations increased by $12 thousand, or 11%, reflecting a return to normalized levels. Telephone expense decreased $21 thousand below the prior year quarter due to a contract negotiation. The Company's first quarter efficiency ratio decreased to 53.9% compared to 64.0%.

Federal income tax expense was $971 thousand in the 2023 first quarter compared to $638 thousand in the 2022 first quarter. The effective tax rate for the 2023 first quarter and 2022 first quarter were 19.8% and 19.1%, respectively.

Average earning assets for the 2023 first quarter increased $5 million, or less than 1%, from the year-ago quarter, primarily reflecting a $77 million, or 14%, increase in average loans, a $38 million, or 11%, increase in average securities, and a $111 million, or 70%, decrease in interest-earning deposits in other banks, held mainly at the Federal Reserve Bank.

Average commercial loan balances for the quarter, including commercial real estate, increased $49 million, or 13%, from prior year levels. Average PPP loan balances were $3 million below the prior year quarter, and less than $125 thousand in PPP balances remain as of March 31, 2023. Excluding the decrease in average PPP loan balances, commercial loans increased $52 million year over year as construction loans were drawn and borrowers used term loans to fund equipment and other purchases. Average residential mortgage balances increased $21 million, or 16%, above the prior year's quarter as borrowers have been favoring adjustable-rate mortgages. Home equity lines of credit increased $6 million from the prior year's quarter as balances were drawn and new loans originated. Average consumer credit balances increased $664 thousand, or 4%, versus the same quarter of the prior year. Increased organic loan demand continues to be largely dependent on the pace at which excess liquidity is absorbed by businesses and households and restoration of borrower confidence.

Nonperforming assets were $218 thousand, or 0.03%, of total loans on March 31, 2023, compared to $1.2 million, or 0.21% of total loans, a year ago. Delinquent loan balances as of March 31, 2023, were stable at 0.13% of total loans as compared to 0.24% on March 31, 2022. Net loan charge-offs recognized during first quarter 2022 were $4 thousand, or 0.0% annualized, compared to first quarter 2022 net loan losses of $13 thousand.

On January 1, 2023, CSB adopted ASU 2016-13 known as current expected credit losses or "CECL". Following a period of extremely low historical credit losses and nonperforming assets, the initial entries to adjust the CECL loan loss allowance and the CECL allowance for unfunded commitments resulted in a net of tax entry increasing retained earnings by approximately $52 thousand. The allowance for expected credit losses amounted to 0.97% of total loans on March 31, 2023, as compared to 1.29% on March 31, 2022. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments on March 31, 2023 was $430 thousand, as compared to a March 31, 2022 balance of $141 thousand. CSB recorded no allowance for credit losses related to AFS or HTM debt securities as there is a zero loss expectation on these securities.

Average deposit balances grew on a quarter over prior year quarter comparison by $15 million, or 2%. For the first quarter 2023, the average cost of deposits amounted to 0.64%, as compared to 0.14% for the first quarter 2022. During the first quarter 2023, increases in average deposit balances over the prior year quarter included noninterest-bearing demand accounts of $5 million and interest-bearing demand and savings accounts of $8 million, while time deposits increased $2 million. The average balance of securities sold under repurchase agreement during the first quarter of 2023 decreased by $8 million, or 19%, compared to the average for the same period in the prior year.

Shareholders' equity totaled $99.0 million on March 31, 2023, with 2.7 million common shares outstanding. The average equity to assets ratio amounted to 8.48% for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, and 8.54% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The Company declared a first quarter dividend of $0.36 per share, producing an annualized yield of 3.8% based on the March 31, 2023 closing price of $38.00.

About CSB Bancorp, Inc.

CSB is a financial holding company headquartered in Millersburg, Ohio, with approximate assets of $1.1 billion as of March 31, 2023. CSB provides a complete range of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through its wholly owned subsidiary, The Commercial and Savings Bank, with sixteen banking centers in Holmes, Wayne, Tuscarawas, and Stark counties and Trust offices located in Millersburg, North Canton, and Wooster, Ohio.

Forward-Looking Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements relating to present or future trends or factors affecting the banking industry, and specifically the financial condition and results of operations, including without limitation, statements relating to the earnings outlook of the Company, as well as its operations, markets, and products. Actual results could differ materially from those indicated. Among the important factors that could cause results to differ materially are interest rate changes, softening in the economy, which could materially impact credit quality trends and the ability to generate loans, changes in the mix of the Company's business, competitive pressures, changes in accounting, tax or regulatory practices or requirements and those risk factors detailed in the Company's periodic reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

CSB BANCORP, INC. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Unaudited)		Quarters
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)		2023				2022				2022				2022				2022
EARNINGS		1st Qtr				4th Qtr				3rd Qtr				2nd Qtr				1st Qtr
Net interest income FTE (a)	$		8,999		$		9,304		$		8,596		$		7,666		$		6,902
Recovery for credit losses			(31	)			-				(250	)			(345	)			(300	)
Other income			1,628				1,612				1,675				1,782				1,642
Other expenses			5,719				6,206				5,945				5,774				5,468
FTE adjustment (a)			34				36				36				36				37
Net income			3,934				3,753				3,650				3,209				2,701
Basic and Diluted earnings per share			1.46				1.39				1.35				1.18				0.99
PERFORMANCE RATIOS
Return on average assets (ROA), annualized			1.39		%		1.27		%		1.25		%		1.13		%		0.96
Return on average common equity (ROE), annualized			16.39				15.94				15.24				13.73				11.26
Net interest margin FTE (a)			3.37				3.33				3.12				2.87				2.60
Efficiency ratio			53.86				56.83				57.87				61.13				64.01
Number of full-time equivalent employees			170				172				172				171				172
MARKET DATA
Book value/common share	$		36.93		$		35.43		$		33.97		$		34.46		$		34.93
Period-end common share market value			38.00				38.50				39.00				38.00				39.60
Market as a % of book			102.90		%		108.66		%		114.81		%		110.27		%		113.37
Price-to-earnings ratio			7.06				7.84				8.92				9.31				10.15
Average basic common shares			2,692,304				2,707,576				2,712,686				2,718,024				2,718,024
Average diluted common shares			2,692,304				2,707,576				2,712,686				2,718,024				2,718,024
Period end common shares outstanding			2,680,625				2,707,576				2,707,576				2,718,024				2,718,024
Common stock market capitalization	$		101,864		$		104,242		$		105,595		$		103,285		$		107,634
ASSET QUALITY
Gross charge-offs	$		39		$		217		$		29		$		11		$		31
Net charge-offs (recoveries)			4				170				10				(308	)			13
Allowance for credit losses			6,307				6,838				7,008				7,268				7,305
Nonperforming assets (NPAs)			218				256				685				690				1,181
Net charge-off (recovery) / average loans ratio			0.00		%		0.11		%		0.01		%		(0.21	)	%		0.01
Allowance for credit losses / period-end loans			0.97				1.09				1.15				1.25				1.29
NPAs/loans and other real estate			0.03				0.04				0.11				0.12				0.21
Allowance for credit losses / nonperforming loans			2,893				2,667				1,022				1,054				619
CAPITAL & LIQUIDITY
Period-end tangible equity to assets (b)			8.28		%		7.90		%		7.54		%		7.93		%		7.98
Average equity to assets			8.48				7.96				8.20				8.25				8.54
Average equity to loans			15.27				15.06				15.98				16.31				17.35
Average loans to deposits			63.19				59.84				58.15				57.65				56.42
AVERAGE BALANCES
Assets	$		1,147,033		$		1,172,785		$		1,159,523		$		1,136,318		$		1,138,598
Earning assets			1,082,996				1,108,231				1,094,197				1,072,376				1,078,269
Loans			637,392				620,243				594,820				574,824				560,440
Deposits			1,008,721				1,036,559				1,022,851				997,108				993,411
Shareholders' equity			97,319				93,404				95,043				93,750				97,242
ENDING BALANCES
Assets	$		1,143,394		$		1,159,108		$		1,161,830		$		1,126,778		$		1,135,003
Earning assets			1,080,939				1,094,876				1,096,302				1,064,770				1,073,565
Loans			647,773				627,171				609,971				582,185				567,375
Deposits			1,007,507				1,023,417				1,029,274				993,113				994,939
Shareholders' equity			99,007				95,920				91,981				93,662				94,928

NOTES:

(a) - Net Interest income on a fully tax-equivalent ("FTE") basis restates interest on tax-exempt securities and loans as if such interest were subject to federal income tax at the statutory rate. Net interest income on an FTE basis differs from net interest income under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
(b) - Tangible equity is a non-GAAP measure, which is shareholders' equity net of goodwill.

CSB BANCORP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)		March 31,					March 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)		2023					2022
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and due from banks	$		16,965			$		18,963
Interest-earning deposits in other banks			38,550					111,274
Total cash and cash equivalents			55,515					130,237
Securities
Available-for-sale, at fair-value			149,269					143,322
Held-to-maturity			243,334					246,301
Equity securities			253					248
Restricted stock, at cost			1,760					4,614
Total securities			394,616					394,485
Loans held for sale			-					431
Loans			647,773					567,375
Less allowance for credit losses			6,307					7,305
Net loans			641,466					560,070
Premises and equipment, net			13,240					13,730
Goodwill			4,728					4,728
Bank owned life insurance			24,878					24,201
Accrued interest receivable and other assets			8,951					7,121
TOTAL ASSETS	$		1,143,394			$		1,135,003
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing	$		329,500			$		335,974
Interest-bearing			678,007					658,965
Total deposits			1,007,507					994,939
Short-term borrowings			29,813					38,893
Other borrowings			2,394					3,325
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities			4,673					2,918
TOTAL LIABILITIES			1,044,387					1,040,075
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $6.25 par value. Authorized 9,000,000 shares;
issued 2,980,602 shares in 2023 and 2022			18,629					18,629
Additional paid-in capital			9,815					9,815
Retained earnings			89,524					79,416
Treasury stock at cost - 299,977 shares in 2023
and 262,578 shares in 2022			(7,126	)				(5,719	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(11,835	)				(7,213	)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY			99,007					94,928
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$		1,143,394			$		1,135,003

CSB BANCORP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
		Quarter ended
(Unaudited)		March 31,
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)		2023					2022
Interest and dividend income:
Loans, including fees	$		7,969			$		5,777
Taxable securities			2,012					1,281
Nontaxable securities			101					110
Other			545					74
Total interest and dividend income			10,627					7,242
Interest expense:
Deposits			1,584					349
Other			78					28
Total interest expense			1,662					377
Net interest income			8,965					6,865
Recovery of credit losses			(31	)				(300	)
Net interest income, after recovery
of credit losses			8,996					7,165
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposits accounts			292					265
Trust services			258					264
Debit card interchange fees			521					495
Credit card fees			177					155
Earnings on bank owned life insurance			169					166
Gain on sale of loans			3					118
Market value change in equity securities			9					1
Other			199					178
Total noninterest income			1,628					1,642
Noninterest expenses
Salaries and employee benefits			3,294					3,155
Occupancy expense			282					272
Equipment expense			207					214
Professional and director fees			321					276
Software expense			399					333
Marketing and public relations			123					111
Debit card expense			146					164
Financial institutions tax			192					195
Other expenses			755					748
Total noninterest expenses			5,719					5,468
Income before income taxes			4,905					3,339
Federal income tax provision			971					638
Net income	$		3,934			$		2,701
Net income per share:
Basic and diluted	$		1.46			$		0.99

Contacts

Paula J. Meiler, SVP & CFO
330.763.2873
[e-mail]