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Oak Valley Bancorp Reports 4th Quarter Results and Announces Cash Dividend

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OAKDALE, Calif., Jan. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oak Valley Bancorp (NASDAQ: OVLY) (the “Company”), the bank holding company for Oak Valley Community Bank and their Eastern Sierra Community Bank division, recently reported unaudited consolidated financial results. For the three months ended December 31, 2024, consolidated net income was $6,008,000 or $0.73 per diluted share (EPS), as compared to $7,324,000, or $0.89 EPS, for the prior quarter and $5,865,000, or $0.71 EPS for the same period a year ago. Consolidated net income for the year ended December 31, 2024, totaled $24,948,000, or $3.02 EPS, representing a decrease of 19.1% compared to $30,848,000, or $3.75 EPS for 2023. The decrease in QTD earnings compared to the prior quarter is related to loan recoveries which resulted in the reversal of credit loss provision of $1,620,000 recorded during the third quarter of 2024. The increase over the same period a year ago is related to a credit loss provision of $1,130,000 recorded during the fourth quarter of 2023, corresponding to macro-economic conditions and loan growth of $100.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2023. Despite the positive variance related to the reversal of credit loss provisions, 2024 YTD earnings decreased compared to 2023 due to an increase in deposit interest expense and general operating expenses.

“We are pleased to report another solid year of earnings and commend our team on their commitment to a culture of relationship banking built on a foundation of sound credit quality standards,” stated Chris Courtney, Chief Executive Officer.

Net interest income was $17,846,000 and $70,034,000 for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, compared to $17,655,000 during the prior quarter, $17,914,000 for the fourth quarter of 2023, and $75,802,000 for the year ended December 31, 2023. The QTD increase compared to prior quarter is due to an increase of $39.6 million in average earning assets. The QTD and YTD decreases compared to 2023 is due to an increase in deposit interest expense. The average cost of funds increased to 0.78% in 2024, compared to 0.28% in 2023. The higher interest expense was partially offset by loan growth of $90.0 million, or 8.8%, year-over-year.

Net interest margin was 4.00% and 4.07% (non-GAAP measure, see financial table footnote 1 below) for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, respectively, as compared to 4.04% for the prior quarter, 4.15% for the fourth quarter of 2023, and 4.33% for the year ended December 31, 2023. The interest margin decrease compared to prior periods is the result of increased deposit interest expense as described above.