Pacific Financial Corp Earns $2.9 Million, or $0.28 per Diluted Share, for Fourth Quarter 2023, and Record Earnings of $14.6 Million, or $1.40 per Diluted Share, for the full year ended December 31, 2023; Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.14 per Share

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Pacific Financial Corporation
Pacific Financial Corporation

ABERDEEN, Wash., Jan. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pacific Financial Corporation (OTCQX: PFLC), (“Pacific Financial”) or the (“Company”), the holding company for Bank of the Pacific (the “Bank”), reported net income of $2.9 million, or $0.28 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $3.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2023, and $4.7 million, or $0.45 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2023, net income was $14.6 million, or $1.40 per diluted share, compared to $10.9 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, for the full year of 2022. All results are unaudited. 

The board of directors of Pacific Financial declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.14 per share on January 24, 2024. The dividend will be payable on February 23, 2024 to shareholders of record on February 9, 2024.

“We’re pleased to report another solid quarter, fueling record earnings for the full year of 2023,” said Denise Portmann, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Fourth quarter earnings benefitted from higher yields on interest earning assets as well as strong loan growth, and our full year results were highlighted by pre-provision earnings growth, driven by strong net interest income growth and a wider net interest margin. Current quarter net interest margin was at 4.34%, only a slight decline of 3 basis points from the prior quarter. Credit quality remains solid, with continued low levels of adversely classified and nonperforming loans.”

“Loan growth was strong, increasing 7% year-over-year and 2% over the linked quarter, and we continue to be optimistic about loan demand in our markets,” said Portmann. “We recently announced a new commercial banking center in Lake Oswego, Oregon, supported by a new team of seven seasoned commercial bankers who have established ties to the Portland market and its community. We look forward to the opportunities this new market presents and to establishing new customer relationships within the greater Portland region. This expansion into these new markets aligns with our long-term goals and strategic plans.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights:

  • Return on average assets (“ROAA”) was 1.02%, compared to 1.21% for the third quarter 2023, and 1.41% for the fourth quarter 2022.

  • Return on average equity (“ROAE”) was 10.88%, compared to 13.16% from the preceding quarter, and 18.70% from the fourth quarter a year earlier.

  • Net interest income was $11.7 million, compared to $12.3 million for the third quarter of 2023, and $12.9 million for the fourth quarter 2022.

  • Net interest margin (“NIM”) contracted 3 basis points to 4.34%, compared to 4.37% from the preceding quarter, and expanded 22 basis points from 4.12% for the fourth quarter a year ago.

  • Provision for credit losses was $111,000 compared to $244,000 for the preceding quarter and no provision in the fourth quarter a year ago.

  • Gross loans balances increased $13.4 million, or 2%, to $685.3 million at December 31, 2023, compared to $672.0 from the preceding quarter end and increased 7%, or $44.6 million, compared to $640.7 million at December 31, 2022.

  • Total deposits declined $42.0 million to $1.01 billion, compared to $1.05 billion from the third quarter 2023, with core deposits representing 90% of total deposits at December 31, 2023. Non-interest bearing deposits represented 41% of total deposits at December 31, 2023.

  • Asset quality remains solid with nonperforming assets to total assets at 0.06%, compared to nonperforming assets to total assets at 0.10% for the preceding quarter, and 0.07% at December 31, 2022.

  • At December 31, 2023, Pacific Financial continued to exceed regulatory well-capitalized requirements with a leverage ratio of 11.3% and a total risk-based capital ratio of 17.7%.