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“Timberland’s net interest margin expanded five basis points to 3.58% for the fourth quarter, compared to the preceding quarter, as the yield improvements on interest-earning assets continued to outpace the increase in cost of funds,” said Jonathan Fischer, President and Chief Operating Officer. “Total deposits increased $19 million, or 1%, during the quarter and $87 million, or 6% year-over-year, while total borrowings stayed unchanged at $20 million compared to the prior quarter end.”

“In September, Timberland was one of only 30 banks in the U.S. to be named a “Sm-All Star” in Piper Sandler’s annual list of top-performing small-cap banks and thrifts in its “Class of 2024.” This elite annual list reflects the top banks and thrifts in the industry across various metrics including growth, profitability, credit quality and capital strength. We are honored to be recognized by Piper Sandler as one of the top performing community banks in the nation, a validation of Timberland’s solid foundation,” added Brydon. “In addition, Timberland was named Best Bank in Pierce County (by The News Tribune), Best Bank in Grays Harbor County (by The Daily World), and Best Bank in the South Sound (by The Olympian) during the year. These local recognitions are a testament to the dedication of our employees, who continue to work diligently to support our customers,” added Fischer.

Earnings and Balance Sheet Highlights (at or for the periods ended September 30, 2024, compared to September 30, 2023, or June 30, 2024):

   Earnings Highlights:

• Earnings per diluted common share (“EPS”) increased 7% to $0.79 for the current quarter from $0.74 for the preceding quarter and decreased 2% from $0.81 for the comparable quarter one year ago; EPS for the 2024 fiscal year decreased 9% to $3.01 from $3.29 for the 2023 fiscal year;

• Net income increased 7% to $6.36 million for the current quarter from $5.92 million for the preceding quarter and decreased 4% from $6.64 million for the comparable quarter one year ago; Net income decreased 10% to $24.28 million for the 2024 fiscal year compared to $27.12 million for the 2023 fiscal year;

• Return on average equity (“ROE”) and return on average assets (“ROA”) for the current quarter were 10.43% and 1.32%, respectively;

• Net interest margin (“NIM”) for the current quarter expanded to 3.58% from 3.53% for the preceding quarter and compressed from 3.85% for the comparable quarter one year ago; and

• The efficiency ratio for the current quarter was 56.79% compared to 58.97% for the preceding quarter and 55.52% for the comparable quarter one year ago.
  

Balance Sheet Highlights:

• Total assets increased 1% from the prior quarter and increased 5% year-over-year;

• Net loans receivable increased 2% from the prior quarter and increased 9% year-over-year;

• Total deposits increased 1% from the prior quarter and increased 6% year-over-year;

• Total shareholders’ equity increased 2% from the prior quarter and increased 5% year-over-year; 36,859 shares of common stock were repurchased during the current quarter for $1.09 million and 218,976 shares of common stock were repurchased during the 2024 fiscal year for $5.89 million;

• Non-performing assets to total assets ratio was 0.20% at September 30, 2024 compared to 0.22% at June 30, 2024 and 0.09% at September 30, 2023;

• Book and tangible book (non-GAAP) values per common share increased to $30.83 and $28.87 respectively, at September 30, 2024; and

• Liquidity (both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet) remained strong at September 30, 2024 with only $20 million in borrowings and additional secured borrowing line capacity of $692 million available through the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) and the Federal Reserve.
  

Operating Results

Operating revenue (net interest income before the provision for credit losses plus non-interest income) for the current quarter increased 4% to $19.48 million from $18.77 million for the preceding quarter and decreased 1% from $19.76 million for the comparable quarter one year ago. The increase in operating revenue compared to the preceding quarter was primarily due to an increase in interest income from loans and an increase in non-interest income, which was partially offset by an increase in funding costs and a decrease in interest income on investment securities and interest bearing deposits in banks.   Operating revenue decreased by 5%, to $75.30 million for the 2024 fiscal year from $79.50 million for the 2023 fiscal year, primarily due to an increase in funding costs, which outpaced the increase in interest income.

Net interest income increased $566,000, or 4%, to $16.55 million for the current quarter from $15.98 million for the preceding quarter and decreased $284,000, or 2%, from $16.83 million for the comparable quarter one year ago. The increase in net interest income compared to the preceding quarter was primarily due to an increase in the weighted average yield of interest-earning assets to 5.41% from 5.33% for the preceding quarter and a $17.47 million increase in average total interest-earning assets. Partially offsetting the increase in the weighted average yield of interest-earning assets, was in increase in the weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 2.70% from 2.64% for the preceding quarter. Timberland’s NIM for the current quarter expanded to 3.58% from 3.53% for the preceding quarter and compressed from 3.85% for the comparable quarter one year ago.   The NIM for the current quarter was increased by approximately one basis point due to the collection of $20,000 in pre-payment penalties, non-accrual interest, and late fees and the accretion of $7,000 of the fair value discount on acquired loans.   The NIM for the preceding quarter was increased by approximately three basis points due to the collection of $124,000 in pre-payment penalties, non-accrual interest, and late fees, and the accretion of $9,000 of the fair value discount on acquired loans.   The NIM for the comparable quarter one year ago was increased by approximately two basis points due to the collection of $92,000 in pre-payment penalties, non-accrual interest, and late fees, and the accretion of $11,000 of the fair value discount on acquired loans.

Net interest income for the 2024 fiscal year decreased $4.19 million, or 6%, to $64.17 million from $68.36 million for the 2023 fiscal year, primarily due to increased funding costs, which outpaced the increase in interest income. The weighted average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased to 2.52% for the 2024 fiscal year from 1.06% for the 2023 fiscal year. Partially offsetting the increased funding costs was an increase in the weighted average yield of interest-earning assets to 5.24% for the 2024 fiscal year from 4.63% for the 2023 fiscal year and an $82.49 million increase in average total interest-earning assets for the current year. As a result of these changes, Timberland’s NIM compressed to 3.54% for the 2024 fiscal year from 3.95% for the 2023 fiscal year.

A $444,000 provision for credit losses on loans was recorded for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The provision was primarily due to loan portfolio growth and changes in the composition of the loan portfolio. This compares to a $264,000 provision for credit losses on loans for the preceding quarter and a $522,000 provision for credit losses on loans for the comparable quarter one year ago. In addition, a $59,000 provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments and a $13,000 recapture of credit losses on investment securities were recorded for the current quarter. The provisions for credit losses on loans totaled $1.25 million for the 2024 fiscal year compared to provisions of $2.13 million for the 2023 fiscal year.

Non-interest income increased $141,000, or 5% to $2.93 million for the current quarter from $2.79 million for the preceding quarter and increased $8,000, less than 1%, from $2.92 million for the comparable quarter one year ago. The increase in non-interest income compared to the preceding quarter was primarily due to an increase in gain on sales of loans and smaller changes in several other categories.

Non-interest income for the 2024 fiscal year decreased slightly, less than 1%, to $11.136 million from $11.140 million for the 2023 fiscal year, primarily due to a decrease in ATM and debit card interchange fees and smaller decreases in several other categories, which were partially offset by an increase in services charges on deposits and smaller increases in several other categories.

Total operating (non-interest) expenses for the current quarter decreased $7,000, or less than 1%, to $11.06 million from $11.07 million for the preceding quarter and increased $95,000, or 1%, from $10.97 million for the comparable quarter one year ago.   The decrease in operating expenses compared to the preceding quarter was primarily due to decreases in premises and equipment, salaries and employee benefits and smaller decreases in several other expense categories. These decreases were partially offset by increases in technology and communications, professional fees, and smaller increases in several other expense categories. The efficiency ratio for the current quarter was 56.79% compared to 58.97% for the preceding quarter and 55.52% for the comparable quarter one year ago.

For the 2024 fiscal year, operating expenses increased 1% to $43.75 million from $43.37 million for the 2023 fiscal year. The increase in operating expenses was primarily due to increases in technology and communications, ATM and debit card processing, and smaller increases in several other expense categories. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in professional fees and smaller decreases in several other expense categories. The efficiency ratio for the 2024 fiscal year was 58.09% compared to 54.56% for the 2023 fiscal year.  

The provision for income taxes for the current quarter increased $37,000, or 2%, to $1.57 million from $1.54 million for the preceding quarter, primarily due to higher taxable income. Timberland’s effective income tax rate was 19.8% for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 compared to 20.6% for the quarter ended June 30, 2024 and 19.6% for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. Timberland’s effective income tax rate was 20.1% for the 2024 fiscal year compared to 20.2% for the 2023 fiscal year.

Balance Sheet Management

Total assets increased $22.85 million, or 1%, during the quarter to $1.92 billion at September 30, 2024 from $1.90 billion at June 30, 2024 and increased $83.57 million, or 5%, from $1.84 billion one year ago.   The increase during the current quarter was primarily due to increases of $24.50 million in net loans receivable and $5.82 million in cash and cash equivalents, and smaller increases in several other categories. These increases to total assets were partially offset by a $6.92 million decrease in investment securities and smaller decreases in several other categories. The net increase in total assets during the quarter was primarily funded by increased deposits and retained net income.

Liquidity

Timberland has maintained a strong liquidity position (both on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet) while continuing to grow the loan portfolio. Liquidity, as measured by the sum of cash and cash equivalents, CDs held for investment, and available for sale investment securities, was 14.7% of total liabilities at September 30, 2024, compared to 14.7% at June 30, 2024, and 11.6% one year ago. Timberland had secured borrowing line capacity of $692 million available through the FHLB and the Federal Reserve at September 30, 2024. With a strong and diversified deposit base, only 18% of Timberland’s deposits were uninsured or uncollateralized at September 30, 2024. (Note: This calculation excludes public deposits that are fully collateralized.)

Loans

Net loans receivable increased $24.50 million, or 2%, during the quarter to $1.42 billion at September 30, 2024 from $1.40 billion at June 30, 2024. This increase was primarily due to a $17.32 million decrease in the undisbursed portion of construction loans, a $10.51 million increase in one- to four-family loans and smaller increases in several other loan categories. These increases to net loans receivable were partially offset by a $7.33 million decrease in gross construction loans and smaller decreases in several other loan categories.

Net loans receivable increased $119.22 million, or 9%, during the fiscal year to $1.42 billion at September 30, 2024 from $1.30 billion at September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily due to a $50.17 million increase in multi-family loans, a $45.90 million increase in one- to four-family loans, a $33.32 million decrease in the undisbursed portion of construction loans, a $30.95 million increases in commercial real estate loans, a $9.63 million increase in home equity loans and smaller increases in several other loan categories. These increases to net loans receivable were partially offset by a $54.64 million decrease in gross construction loans and smaller decreases in several other loan categories.

The following table provides a breakdown of commercial real estate (“CRE”) mortgage loans by collateral type as of September 30, 2024:

Timberland originated $48.82 million in loans during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, compared to $74.32 million for the preceding quarter and $89.25 million for the comparable quarter one year ago. Timberland continues to originate fixed-rate one- to four-family mortgage loans, a portion of which are sold into the secondary market for asset-liability management purposes and to generate non-interest income.   During the current quarter, fixed-rate one- to four-family mortgage loans totaling $5.62 million were sold compared to $3.05 million for the preceding quarter and $4.58 million for the comparable quarter one year ago.

Investment Securities
        
Timberland’s investment securities and CDs held for investment decreased $7.17 million, or 3%, to $255.43 million at September 30, 2024, from $262.60 million at June 30, 2024.   The decrease was primarily due to maturities of U.S. Treasury investment securities (classified as held to maturity) and scheduled amortization. Partially offsetting these decreases, was the purchase of additional U.S. government agency mortgage-backed investment securities and U.S. Treasury investment securities, all of which were classified as available for sale.

Investment securities and CDs held for investment decreased $72.56 million, or 22%, during the fiscal year to $255.43 million at September 30, 2024, from $327.99 million at September 30, 2023. The decrease was primarily due to maturities of U.S. Treasury investment securities, and to a lesser extent, scheduled amortization. Partially offsetting these decreases, was the purchase of additional U.S. government agency mortgage-backed investment securities and U.S. Treasury investment securities, all of which were classified as available for sale.

Deposits

Total deposits increased $19.12 million, or 1%, during the quarter to $1.65 billion at September 30, 2024, from $1.63 billion at June 30, 2024. The quarter’s increase consisted of an $8.53 million increase in NOW account balances, a $6.77 million increase in certificate of deposit account balances and a $5.99 million increase in non-interest bearing deposit account balances. These increases were partially offset by a $1.93 million decrease in savings account balances and a $240,000 decrease in money market account balances.

Total deposits increased $86.73 million, or 6%, during the fiscal year to $1.65 billion at September 30, 2024 from $1.56 billion at September 30, 2023. The increase consisted of a $137.05 million increase in money market account balances and a $68.21 million increase in certificate of deposit account balances. These increases were partially offset by a $53.40 million decrease in NOW account balances, a $42.75 million decrease in non-interest bearing deposit account balances and a $22.37 million decrease in savings account balances.

Borrowings

Total borrowings were $20.00 million at both September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024. At September 30, 2024, the weighted average rate on the borrowings was 3.97%.

Shareholders’ Equity and Capital Ratios

Total shareholders’ equity increased $4.19 million, or 2%, to $245.41 million at September 30, 2024, from $241.22 million at June 30, 2024, and increased $12.34 million, or 5%, from $233.07 million at September 30, 2023.   The quarter’s increase in shareholders’ equity was primarily due to net income of $6.36 million and a $565,000 change in the accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) category for fair value adjustments on available for sale investment securities. These increases to shareholders’ equity during the current quarter were partially offset by the payment of $1.91 million in dividends to shareholders and the repurchase of 36,859 shares of common stock for $1.09 million (an average price of $29.61 per share). During the fiscal year Timberland repurchased 218,976 shares of common stock for $5.89 million (an average price of $26.91 per share) and had 155,166 shares available to be repurchased in accordance with the terms of its existing stock repurchase plan at September 30, 2024.

Timberland remains well capitalized with a total risk-based capital ratio of 19.39%, a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 12.12%, a tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio (non-GAAP) of 12.05%, and a shareholders’ equity to total assets ratio of 12.76% at September 30, 2024. Timberland’s held to maturity investment securities were $172.10 million at September 30, 2024, with a net unrealized loss of $6.07 million (pre-tax). Although not permitted by U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), including these unrealized losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) would result in a ratio of shareholders’ equity to total assets of 12.54%, compared to 12.76%, as reported.

Asset Quality

Timberland’s non-performing assets to total assets ratio was 0.20% at September 30, 2024 compared to 0.22% at June 30, 2024 and 0.09% at September 30, 2023.   Net charge-offs totaled $12,000 for the current quarter compared to net charge-offs of $36,000 for the preceding quarter and net charge-offs of $12,000 for the comparable quarter one year ago. During the current quarter, provisions for credit losses of $444,000 on loans and $59,000 on unfunded commitments were made, which were partially offset by a $13,000 recapture of credit losses on investment securities. The ACL for loans as a percentage of loans receivable was 1.21% at September 30, 2024, compared to 1.21% at June 30, 2024 and 1.20% one year ago.

Total delinquent loans (past due 30 days or more) and non-accrual loans increased $244,000 or 6%, to $4.49 million at September 30, 2024, from $4.23 million at June 30, 2024. Non-accrual loans decreased $235,000, or 6%, to $3.88 million at September 30, 2024 from $4.12 million at June 30, 2024. The quarterly decrease in non-accrual loans was primarily due to decreases in construction loans, commercial real estate loans and one- to four-family loans on non-accrual status, which was partially offset by an increase in commercial business loans on non-accrual status.

About Timberland Bancorp, Inc.
Timberland Bancorp, Inc., a Washington corporation, is the holding company for Timberland Bank. The Bank opened for business in 1915 and primarily serves consumers and businesses across Grays Harbor, Thurston, Pierce, King, Kitsap and Lewis counties, Washington with a full range of lending and deposit services through its 23 branches (including its main office in Hoquiam).

Disclaimer

Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, are based on certain assumptions and often include the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “potentially,” “probably,” “projects,” “outlook” or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would” and “could.” Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions and statements about future economic performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: potential adverse impacts to economic conditions in our local market areas, other markets where the Company has lending relationships, or other aspects of the Company's business operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels, labor shortages and the effects of inflation, a potential recession or slowed economic growth; continuing elevated levels of inflation and the impact of current and future monetary policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve") in response thereto; the effects of any federal government shutdown; credit risks of lending activities, including any deterioration in the housing and commercial real estate markets which may lead to increased losses and non-performing loans in our loan portfolio resulting in our ACL not being adequate to cover actual losses and thus requiring us to materially increase our ACL through the provision for credit losses; changes in general economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas; changes in the levels of general interest rates, and the relative differences between short and long-term interest rates, deposit interest rates, our net interest margin and funding sources; fluctuations in the demand for loans, the number of unsold homes, land and other properties and fluctuations in real estate values in our market areas; secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to sell loans in the secondary market; results of examinations of us by the Federal Reserve and of our bank subsidiary by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Banks or other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, institute a formal or informal enforcement action against us or our bank subsidiary which could require us to increase our ACL, write-down assets, change our regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits or impose additional requirements or restrictions on us, any of which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business including changes in banking, securities and tax law, in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; our ability to attract and retain deposits; our ability to control operating costs and expenses; the use of estimates in determining fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant declines in valuation; difficulties in reducing risks associated with the loans in our consolidated balance sheet; staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or the implementation of corporate strategies that affect our work force and potential associated charges; disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on the third-party vendors who perform several of our critical processing functions; our ability to retain key members of our senior management team; costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; our ability to implement our business strategies; our ability to manage loan delinquency rates; increased competitive pressures among financial services companies; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; the availability of resources to address changes in laws, rules, or regulations or to respond to regulatory actions; our ability to pay dividends on our common stock; the quality and composition of our securities portfolio and the impact if any adverse changes in the securities markets, including on market liquidity; inability of key third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"), including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods; the economic impact of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, civil unrest and other external events on our business; other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services; and other risks described elsewhere in this press release and in the Company's other reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this press release and in the other public statements we make are based upon management's beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those contained in such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements discussed in this document might not occur and we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2025 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of, us, and could negatively affect the Company's consolidated financial condition and results of operations as well as its stock price performance.

         

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to results presented in accordance with GAAP, this press release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. Timberland believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide investors with information useful in understanding the Company’s financial performance; however, readers of this report are urged to review these non-GAAP financial measures in conjunction with GAAP results as reported.

Financial measures that exclude intangible assets are non-GAAP measures. To provide investors with a broader understanding of capital adequacy, Timberland provides non-GAAP financial measures for tangible common equity, along with the GAAP measure. Tangible common equity is calculated as shareholders’ equity less goodwill and CDI. In addition, tangible assets equal total assets less goodwill and CDI.

The following table provides a reconciliation of ending shareholders’ equity (GAAP) to ending tangible shareholders’ equity (non-GAAP) and ending total assets (GAAP) to ending tangible assets (non-GAAP).