Colony Bankcorp, Inc. today reported net income of $5.6 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared with $3.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The Company reported operating net income of $7.1 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared with $3.7 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, for the same period in 2020. Operating net income for quarter ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 excludes pre-tax acquisition related expenses, and the net income tax benefit for these adjustments (See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures).

For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company reported net income of $14.5 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, compared to $6.9 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, for the same period in 2020. The Company reported operating net income of $16.7 million, or $1.60 adjusted earnings per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to $7.9 million, or $0.84 adjusted earnings per diluted share, for the same period in 2020 (See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures).

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights:

• Net income was $5.6 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, compared to $3.1 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2020.

• Operating net income of $7.1 million, or $0.57 per diluted share (see Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures).

• $150,000 in provision for loan losses was recorded in third quarter of 2021, a decrease of $956,000, or 86%, compared to the third quarter of 2020.

• Mortgage production was $89.4 million, with $21.2 million in refinances, and $68.1 million in purchases.

• Small Business Specialty Lending (“SBSL”) closed $26.1 million in Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans and sold $12.9 million in SBA loans.

• Total borrowings at September 30, 2021 totaled $88.9 million, a decrease of $120.4 million, or 57.5%, compared to the same period in 2020.

The Company also announced that on October 21, 2021, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.1025 per share, to be paid on its common stock on November 17, 2021, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 3, 2021. Outstanding shares as of October 20, 2021 were 13,674,198.

Commenting on the announcement, Heath Fountain, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “As the economy continues to open, Colony’s results remain strong and demonstrate solid growth despite the dampening effect of the Delta variant and supply chain disruptions. I am pleased to report solid earnings growth for the third quarter of 2021 compared to the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share increased 36% for the third quarter to $0.45 per diluted share, despite significantly higher acquisition related expenses associated with successfully completing the acquisition of SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc (SouthCrest”). Our continued efforts to diversify our revenue streams resulted in non-interest income growth of 25% year-over-year with mortgage fee income increasing 19% as a result of continued low interest rates, consumer demand and the dedication and hard work of our associates. Diluted earnings per share increased on a sequential quarter basis as well. Additionally, adjusted earnings increased for the year-over- year period to $0.57 from $0.39, and increased 16% from the prior quarter.

“We have continued to be very busy at Colony and have made important investments during the quarter, including strategic and add-on acquisitions that will drive our Company’s future prospects and position it to grow and prosper. During the quarter, we successfully closed the acquisitions of SouthCrest and formed Colony Insurance in conjunction with acquiring The Barnes Agency and related tuck-in acquisitions. Management and our Board of Directors continue to analyze utilizing our balance sheet for synergistic opportunities and becoming a more efficient organization. Increasing non-interest income has been of paramount importance to us and we believe will continue to grow with the addition of new customers and cross-selling of our range of product lines.

“Credit metrics in our balance sheet continued to be strong. We took a $150,000 provision for loan and lease losses, a substantial decrease from $1.1 million in the same period last year. Core loan growth increased 7% with total loans increasing 19% versus the same period last year, and deposits increased 52% to $2.2 billion over the same period, primarily due to the acquisition of SouthCrest. Average interest earning assets increased $442.8 million, or 25% from the quarter ended September 30, 2020, while total assets increased to $2.5 billion. Average interest-bearing deposits increased $400.8 million year-over-year with most of the increase in lower-yielding demand and savings accounts.

“Net interest income increased 29% year over year as a result of increases in average interest earning assets and lower costs of interest bearing liabilities. Demand and savings deposits rate was down six basis points to 0.11% and total average deposits cost this quarter decreased 23 basis points to 0.19% from the same period last year. Despite operating in a highly competitive market, I am pleased to report our net interest margin increased to 3.48% from 3.34% year over year.

“Noninterest income saw very strong growth, increasing 25% year over year, with mortgage fee income increasing to $3.1 million in the current quarter compared to $2.6 million in the third quarter of 2020. The increase in noninterest income was offset by increases in noninterest expense, such as salaries and employee benefits, information technology expenses as well as elevated acquisition related expenses and professional fees.

“Our allowance for loan and lease losses now represents 0.98% of total loans outstanding, a decrease from 1.00% in the year-earlier quarter and 1.26% on a sequential-quarter basis. Total nonperforming assets decreased to 0.52% of total assets from 0.67% in the year-earlier quarter and from 0.54% on a sequential-quarter basis.”

In closing, Fountain added, “This is a very exciting time for all of us at Colony. As the largest community bank in Georgia and the continued execution of our strategic priorities, we see substantial opportunities to leverage our best-in-class products and services, and deliver enhanced shareholder value for years to come. The team has done a remarkable job, and I couldn't be prouder of how they stepped up to support our clients and new customers to deliver another quarter of outstanding results.”

Balance Sheet

• Total assets were $2.5 billion at September 30, 2021, an increase of $753.1 million, or 42.8%, compared to the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily related to acquisition of SouthCrest.

• Total loans, including loans held for sale, totaled $1.34 billion at September 30, 2021, an increase of $235.0 million, or 20.3% from the same period in 2020. Legacy loan growth was up $60.4 million or 6.9% compared to the same period in 2020. The increase in loans was a primarily a result of the acquisition of SouthCrest offset by the forgiveness of loans under the Paycheck Protection Program.

• Deposits totaled $2.20 billion at September 30, 2021, an increase of $778.7 million, or 55.0%, compared to the same period in 2020. The increase was in all types of deposits and was primarily the result of the acquisition of SouthCrest.

• Total borrowings at September 30, 2021 totaled $88.6 million, a decrease of $120.6 million, or 57.6%, compared to the same period in 2020.

Capital

• Colony continues to maintain a strong capital position, with ratios that exceed regulatory minimums required to be classified as “well-capitalized.”

• Preliminary tier one leverage ratio, tier one capital ratio, total risk-based capital ratio and common equity tier one capital ratio were 8.45%, 12.09%, 12.91%, and 10.60%, respectively at September 30, 2021.

Third Quarter Results of Operations

• Net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, for the third quarter of 2021 totaled $18.0 million, compared to $13.9 million for the third quarter 2020. The increase during the quarter is primarily attributable to loan fee income recognized on Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans forgiven and a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.

• Net interest margin decreased 20 basis points over the sequential quarter primarily driven by a decrease in deferred fee income recognized on PPP loans. During the quarter ended September 30, 2021, PPP loans totaling approximately $44.6 million were forgiven through the SBA.

• Noninterest income totaled $9.4 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, an increase of $1.9 million, or 24.9%, compared to the same period in 2020. The increase was primarily attributable to growth in mortgage production income as a result of increased loan demand resulting from a historically low interest rate environment along with SBSL loan sales.

• Noninterest expense totaled $21.2 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to $16.3 million for the same period in 2020. The increase in noninterest expense primarily resulted from a $2.7 million increase in salary expense and $1.8 million in acquisition expenses related to the acquisitions of SouthCrest and The Barnes Agency (“Barnes”).

• Tax expense totaled $362,000 for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021, a decrease of $522,000, or 59.0%, compared the same period in 2020. This decrease is primarily due to repricing of deferred taxes, recognition of state tax credits, and the integration of SouthCrest. The effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2021 is expected to be approximately 22.0%.

Asset Quality

• Nonperforming assets totaled $13.1 million and $9.5 million at September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively.

• OREO and repossessed assets totaled $810,000 at September 30, 2021, an increase of $511,000, or 63% compared to June 30, 2021, primarily related to the acquisition of SouthCrest.

• Net loan charge-offs were $144,000, or 0.05% of average loans for the third quarter of 2021, compared to net recoveries of $178,000 or (0.09)% in the second quarter of 2021.

• The loan loss reserve was $12.9 million, or 0.98% of total loans, at September 30, 2021, compared to $12.9 million, or 1.26% of total loans, at June 30, 2021.

Asset quality remains strong as indicated by the overall improvement in asset quality ratios as of the third quarter 2021 on a year-over-year comparison along with a decrease in nonperforming assets.