First Commerce Bancorp, Inc. Reports the Second Quarter and Year-to-Date 2024 Results and Adopts Second Stock Repurchase Program

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LAKEWOOD, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / July 30, 2024 / First Commerce Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), (OTC PINK:CMRB), the holding company for First Commerce Bank (the "Bank"), today reported net income of $1.1 million and $2.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 respectively, as compared to $2.9 million and $6.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023 respectively. Basic earnings per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, was $0.05 and $0.10, respectively, compared to $0.12 and $0.26 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, respectively.

Several initiatives discussed in previous releases require an update. President & CEO Donald Mindiak commented, "The Board of Directors has determined that a more efficient method to deliver long term shareholder value is to suspend future cash dividends at this time and utilize portions of that capital to repurchase our common stock. Since all common stock repurchases executed at a discount to tangible book are accretive to our book value, this represents a good investment and creates additional value for our shareholders. As always, we will remain disciplined and regularly assess the utilization of our capital."

"Additionally, with respect to the possible move to the Nasdaq exchange, one of the primary drivers of this initiative was the possible inclusion in a variety of indices, which had the potential of providing a heightened degree of visibility and liquidity to our stock. Certain criteria are necessary to qualify for inclusion in these indices, one of which is reaching a certain market capitalization. Presently, the Company's market cap does not meet the threshold requirement for inclusion in the index and, as such, the Board has decided to delay this initiative at this time and reevaluate it on a regular basis. It is important to add that we are now better prepared for a move to the Nasdaq exchange in the future, since, as of the end of last year, the Bank reevaluated and strengthened its internal control review process."

In connection with the stock repurchase plan, the Company adopted its second program to repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding shares of common stock, or approximately 1.1 million shares of its common stock. This is the Company's second repurchase program since completing its holding company reorganization on May 31, 2023. Shares may be repurchased in open market or private transactions, through block trades or pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission.