Blackhawk Bancorp Announces 2020 Second Quarter Earnings

BELOIT, WI / ACCESSWIRE / July 24, 2020 / Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. (OTCQX:BHWB) reported net income of $2.56 million for the second quarter of 2020, a 24% increase over the $2.07 million earned the previous quarter, and a 7% decrease compared to the $2.75 million earned the second quarter of 2019. Fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter ended June 30, 2020, was $0.77, an increase of $0.14 as compared to $0.63 for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and a decrease of $0.06 as compared to $0.83 earned for the quarter ended June 30, 2019. The second quarter 2020 results produced a Return on Average Equity (ROAE) of 10.16% and a Return on Average Assets (ROAA) of 0.96%.

The earnings increase compared to the most recent quarter reflects record level mortgage banking activity, with gain on sale of loans increasing over 250%, and net interest income increasing by 15%. Net interest income for the quarter was boosted by Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fees and increased earning assets driven by the funding of PPP loans, deposit of PPP and other stimulus funds, and other deposit growth. The revenue growth realized was substantially offset by an increase in the provision for loan losses and an increase in the valuation allowance against the company's originated mortgage servicing rights asset.

The decrease in earnings compared to the second quarter of last year reflects a $2.3 million increase in the provision for loan losses, and a 13% increase in salaries and benefits. Despite the large provision increase and growth in compensation costs, the decline in earnings was held to just 7%, thanks to a 16% increase in net interest income and a 34% increase in non-interest income. The increase in net interest income compared to the prior year second quarter reflects the overall balance sheet growth and PPP fees mentioned earlier in this release, and the increase in non-interest income reflects the dramatic increase in mortgage banking activity. The provision for loan losses was increased primarily due to uncertainties related to COVID-19 and the effect it may have on future credit losses. The increase in salaries and benefits reflects variable compensation tied to the mortgage banking activity.

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, the company reported net income of $4.64 million, a 21% increase over the $3.83 million reported for the first half of 2019. Diluted earnings per share for the first six months of 2020 increased by 21% to $1.40 compared to $1.16 for the first half of 2019. The results for the first half of the prior year included a $1.34 million after-tax charge for non-recurring acquisition and transition related expenses, reducing EPS by $0.41 for that period. If those charges were excluded, EPS would have decreased by $0.17, or 15%, for the six months ended June 30, 2020 compared to the first half of 2019. The Company's results for the first six-months of 2020 produced a return on average assets of 0.90% and a return on average equity of 9.19%.