TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCBG) today reported net income of $7.7 million, or $0.46 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to net income of $10.4 million, or $0.62 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2020, and $8.6 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2019.

For the full year of 2020, net income totaled $31.6 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, compared to net income of $30.8 million, or $1.83 per diluted share, for 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

• Operating revenues (excluding mortgage fees) improved 1.8%
  • Net interest income held firm, declining $0.1 million
  • 7% increase in other fee revenues (deposit, bankcard, and wealth management)
• Noninterest expense included $0.9 million related to other real estate valuation adjustments ($0.5 million) and other expenses totaling $0.4 million (additional funding for our foundation and consulting/legal costs related to a strategic initiative)
• Period-end core loans (excluding SBA PPP) increased $20 million, or 1.1% sequentially
  • SBA PPP loan forgiveness pay-offs totaled $12 million - $178 million in balances and $3.2 million in related fees remain at period-end
• Credit quality remains strong with no significant problem loan migration
  • 97% of loan balances for pandemic related extensions have resumed payments – only $9 million remains on extension
• Capital City Home Loans (“CCHL”) contributed $0.10 per share

Full Year 2020 HIGHLIGHTS

• Operating revenues (excluding mortgage fees) held firm as unfavorable asset re-pricing was offset by SBA PPP loan fees and higher other fee revenues
• Loan balances buoyed by SBA PPP loan originations which totaled $190 million
  • Core loan balances (excluding SBA PPP) held firm due to stronger loan production in the fourth quarter
• Reserve build of $6.6 million (provision of $9.0 million less net charge-offs of $2.4 million) in response to potential credit losses related to the pandemic
  • Allowance coverage ratio (excluding SBA PPP) was 1.30% at year-end
• Deposits grew $572 million (period-end) and $307 million (average) and reflected stimulus inflows as well as strong core deposit growth
• Acquired 51% ownership in Brand Mortgage, LLC on March 1, 2020 (renamed CCHL) – contributed $0.52 per share

“Our strategic alliance with CCHL and the origination of $190 million in SBA PPP loans more than offset the adverse impact of our reserve build and lower interest rates, resulting in year over year earnings growth,” said William G. Smith, Jr., Chairman, President and CEO. “As we entered 2020, I certainly didn’t anticipate the difficulties we would face, but I could not be prouder of our team’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We continue to put the safety and well-being of our associates and clients first, as we reach out to assist our communities through the origination of SBA PPP loans, grants and volunteer hours, and endeavor to meet the needs of our clients through both in-person and virtual delivery channels. 2021 will bring challenges and opportunities, but I am confident our team has the skills and capacity to successfully navigate the future, and we will continue to focus on implementing strategies that produce long-term value for our shareowners. My outlook for Capital City remains optimistic, and I appreciate your continued support.”

COVID-19 Update

• We continue to monitor and adhere to national guidelines and local safety ordinances to protect both clients and associates and respond to changing conditions with the pandemic and its impact on client and associate interactions
• We continue to monitor COVID-19 case count trends in our markets and respond appropriately to help ensure client and associate safety
• On November 24, 2020 we proactively closed lobby access to clients in response to higher case count trends in our markets - banking services are being provided via drive-thru or in-person by appointment only (subject to safety protocols)
• On November 30, 2020 we reinstated remote work arrangements for non-retail associates
• We continue to provide enhanced digital banking options available for banking products and access to sales associates
• We continue to support clients with the Small Business Administration Payment Protection Program (“SBA PPP”) by actively assisting with the Round 1 forgiveness process and will offer funding for clients eligible for Round 2

Discussion of Operating Results

Summary Overview

Compared to the third quarter of 2020, the $5.6 million decrease in operating profit was attributable to a $4.5 million decrease in noninterest income, a $1.0 million increase in noninterest expense, and a $0.1 million decrease in net interest income.

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2019, the $1.7 million increase in operating profit was attributable to a $16.7 million increase in noninterest income, partially offset by higher noninterest expense of $12.2 million, a $1.5 million increase in the provision for credit losses and lower net interest income of $1.3 million.

The $12.1 million increase in operating profit for the full year 2020 versus 2019 was attributable to higher noninterest income of $58.1 million, partially offset by higher noninterest expense of $36.4 million, a $7.6 million increase in the provision for credit losses and lower net interest income of $2.0 million.

The aforementioned year over year variances primarily reflect the acquisition of a 51% membership interest and consolidation of CCHL on March 1, 2020.

Our return on average assets (“ROA”) was 0.84% and our return on average equity (“ROE”) was 8.97% for the fourth quarter of 2020. These metrics were 1.17% and 12.16% for the third quarter of 2020, respectively, and 1.14% and 10.39% for the fourth quarter of 2019, respectively. For the full year 2020, our ROA was 0.93% and our ROE was 9.36% compared to 1.03% and 9.72%, respectively, for 2019.

Net Interest Income/Net Interest Margin

Tax-equivalent net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $25.1 million compared to $25.2 million for the third quarter of 2020 and $26.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. For the full year 2020, tax-equivalent net interest income totaled $101.8 million compared to $103.9 million for 2019. The decrease compared to all prior periods reflected lower rates earned on investment securities and variable/adjustable rate loans. The year-over-year decline also reflected lower rates on overnight funds. Partially offsetting these declines were higher volumes of earning assets, including lower yielding SBA PPP loans and overnight funds.

The federal funds target rate has remained in the range of 0.00%-0.25% since March 2020 when the Fed reduced its overnight rate by 150 basis points, and as a result we continue to experience lower repricing of our variable/adjustable rate earning assets and investment securities. Our overall cost of funds remained low during the fourth quarter of 2020 at 0.14%, an increase of one basis point compared to the third quarter of 2020, due to a higher mix of seasonal public deposits.

Our net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2020 was 3.00%, a decrease of 12 basis points from the third quarter of 2020 and 89 basis points from the fourth quarter of 2019. For the full year 2020, the net interest margin decreased 55 basis points to 3.30%. The decreases were primarily attributable to significant growth in overnight funds which reduced our margin. Our net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2020, excluding the impact of overnight funds in excess of $200 million, was 3.50%. We discuss the effect of the pandemic related stimulus programs on our balance sheet in more detail below under Discussion of Financial Condition.

Provision for Credit Loss

The provision for credit losses was $1.3 million for both the third and fourth quarters of 2020, and was negative $0.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. For the full year 2020, the provision was $9.6 million ($9.0 million for loans held for investment (“HFI”) and $0.6 million for unfunded loan commitments) compared to $2.0 million in 2019. The higher provision in 2020 reflected expected losses due to deterioration in economic conditions related to COVID-19. We discuss the allowance for credit losses and COVID-19 exposure further below.

Noninterest Income and Noninterest Expense

CCHL’s mortgage banking operations impacted our noninterest income and noninterest expense for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2020, and thus, the period over period comparisons reflect the impact of the CCHL consolidation, which occurred on March 1, 2020. The table below provides an overview of CCHL’s impact on our noninterest income and noninterest expense for 2020.

Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2020 totaled $30.5 million compared to $35.0 million for the third quarter of 2020 and $15.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. For the full year 2020, noninterest income totaled $111.2 million compared to $53.1 million for 2019. The decrease from the third quarter of 2020 was primarily due to lower mortgage banking revenues which reflected a seasonal slowdown in loan production and a lower gain on sale margin. The improvement over both periods of 2019 was primarily attributable to higher mortgage banking revenues at CCHL with higher wealth management fees and bank card fees contributing, but to a lesser extent. For the full year 2020, deposit fees declined primarily due to the impact of government stimulus in the second quarter related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decline in fees realized in the second quarter reversed in the third and fourth quarters of 2020 reflecting higher utilization of our overdraft product.

Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2020 totaled $41.3 million compared to $40.3 million for the third quarter of 2020 and $29.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase over the third quarter of 2020 was primarily attributable to higher compensation expense of $0.6 million and other real estate expense of $0.3 million. The increase in compensation reflected higher commission expense of $0.2 million, salary expense of $0.2 million, and cash incentive expense of $0.2 million. Valuation adjustments totaling $0.5 million for two properties drove the increase in other real estate expense. In addition, we recognized $0.4 million in expenses during the fourth quarter of 2020 related to additional funding of our foundation and consulting/legal costs for a strategic initiative.

For the full year 2020, noninterest expense totaled $150.0 million, an increase of $36.4 million over 2019 primarily attributable to the addition of expenses at CCHL, including compensation expense of $32.4 million, occupancy expense of $2.8 million, and other expense of $4.8 million. Core CCBG noninterest expense decreased $3.6 million and reflected lower compensation expense of $2.5 million, ORE expense of $0.4 million, and other expense of $2.2 million, partially offset by higher occupancy expense of $1.5 million. The decrease in compensation expense was primarily attributable to lower commission expense of $2.2 million related to the transfer of our legacy mortgage production division to CCHL and to a lesser extent, higher realized loan cost of $0.4 million related to the aforementioned increase in SBA PPP loan originations. A $1.0 million gain from the sale of a banking office in the first quarter of 2020 drove the reduction in ORE expense. The decline in other expense was primarily attributable to lower service cost expense for our pension plan. Higher expense for FF&E depreciation and maintenance agreements (related to technology investment and upgrades), higher than normal premises maintenance, and pandemic related cleaning/supply costs drove the increase in occupancy. The same aforementioned factors drove the decrease in compensation, occupancy, and other expense from the fourth quarter of 2019.

We realized income tax expense of $2.8 million (effective rate of 22%) for the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to $3.2 million (effective rate of 17%) for the third quarter of 2020 and $2.5 million (effective rate of 23%) for the fourth quarter of 2019. For the full year 2020, we realized income tax expense of $10.2 million (effective rate of 19%) compared to $10.0 million (effective rate of 24%) for the same period of 2019. Tax expense for the fourth quarter of 2020 was unfavorably impacted by a $0.3 million discrete tax expense. The decrease in our effective tax rate in 2020 reflected the impact of converting CCHL to a partnership for tax purposes in the second quarter of 2020. Absent discrete items, we expect our annual effective tax rate to approximate 18%-19% in 2021.

Discussion of Financial Condition

Earning Assets

Average earning assets were $3.337 billion for the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of $113.6 million, or 3.5%, over the third quarter of 2020, and an increase of $642.7 million, or 23.9% over the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase over both prior periods was primarily driven by higher deposit balances, which funded growth in both overnight funds sold and SBA PPP loans. Deposit balances increased as a result of strong core deposit growth, in addition to funding retained at the bank from SBA PPP loans, and various other stimulus programs.

We maintained an average net overnight funds (deposits with banks plus FED funds sold less FED funds purchased) sold position of $705.1 million during the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to an average net overnight funds sold position of $567.9 million in the third quarter of 2020 and $228.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase compared to both prior periods was driven by strong core deposit growth, in addition to pandemic related stimulus programs (see below – Funding).

Average loans HFI decreased $11.7 million, or 0.6%, from the third quarter of 2020 and increased $159.4 million, or 8.7%, over the fourth quarter of 2019. In 2020, we originated SBA PPP loans totaling $190 million (reflected in the commercial loan category) which averaged $185 million in the fourth quarter and totaled $178 million at period-end. Compared to the third quarter of 2020, the decline in average loans was primarily due to lower commercial and commercial mortgage balances with the decline in commercial loans due to the reduction in SBA PPP loans and lower utilization of commercial lines of credit reflective of the economic slowdown. Period-end HFI loans increased $8.3 million, or 0.4%, over the third quarter of 2020 and increased $170.5 million, or 9.3%, over the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase over the third quarter of 2020 reflected higher home equity, construction, and residential loan balances.

To date, approximately $12 million in SBA PPP loans have been forgiven and paid-off. Forgiveness applications are expected to accelerate over the next three to six months driven by the recent COVID Relief Bill which allows a streamlined forgiveness application process for loans of $150,000 and less. At December 31, 2020, SBA PPP loans of $150,000 or less totaled $69 million. SBA PPP loan fees totaled approximately $0.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2020, $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2020, and $0.4 million for the second quarter of 2020. At December 31, 2020 we had $3.2 million (net) in deferred SBA PPP loan fees.

Allowance for Credit Losses

At December 31, 2020, the allowance for credit losses totaled $23.8 million compared to $23.1 million at September 30, 2020 and $13.9 million at December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2020, the allowance represented 1.19% of HFI loans and provided coverage of 406% of nonperforming loans compared to 1.16% and 420%, respectively, at September 30, 2020 and 0.75% and 311%, respectively, at December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2020, excluding SBA PPP loans (100% government guaranteed), the allowance represented 1.30% of loans held for investment.

The adoption of ASC 326 (“CECL”) on January 1, 2020 had an impact of $4.0 million ($3.3 million increase in the allowance for credit losses and $0.7 million increase in the allowance for unfunded loan commitments (other liability account)). The $6.6 million build (provision of $9.0 million less net charge-offs of $2.4 million) in the allowance for credit losses in 2020 was attributable to stressed economic conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential effect on rates of default.

Credit Quality/COVID-19 Exposure

Nonperforming assets (nonaccrual loans and OREO) totaled $6.7 million at December 31, 2020, comparable to September 30, 2020, and a $1.3 million increase over December 31, 2019. Nonaccrual loans totaled $5.9 million at December 31, 2020, a $0.4 million increase over September 30, 2020 and a $1.4 million increase over December 31, 2019. The balance of OREO totaled $0.8 million at December 31, 2020, a decrease of $0.4 million from September 30, 2020 and a $0.1 million decrease from December 31, 2019.

We continue to analyze our loan portfolio for segments that have been affected by the stressed economic and business conditions caused by the pandemic. Certain at-risk segments total 8% of our loan balances at December 31, 2020, including hotel (3%), restaurant (1%), retail and shopping centers (3%), and other (1%). The other segment includes churches, non-profits, education, and recreational. To assist our clients, in mid-March of 2020, we began allowing short term 60 to 90 day loan extensions for affected borrowers. We have extended loans totaling $333 million of which 75% were for commercial borrowers and 25% were for consumer borrowers. Approximately $324 million, or 97% of the loan balances associated with these borrowers have resumed making regularly scheduled payments. Of the $9 million that remains on extension, no loans were classified at December 31, 2020. Of the $324 million that have resumed payments, loan balances totaling $3.5 million were over 30 days delinquent and an additional $0.4 million was on nonaccrual status at December 31, 2020.

Funding (Deposits/Debt)

Average total deposits were $3.066 billion for the fourth quarter of 2020, an increase of $94.9 million, or 3.2%, over the third quarter of 2020 and $541.2 million, or 21.4%, over the fourth quarter of 2019. The estimated deposit inflows related to the first round of pandemic related stimulus programs that occurred primarily during the second quarter were $179 million (SBA PPP) and $64 million (Economic Impact Payment stimulus checks). Average seasonal public funds increased $30 million over the third quarter of 2020 and $81 million over the fourth quarter of 2019. For each quarter during 2020, we’ve also realized strong core deposit growth. Given these large increases as well as the incoming second round of stimulus checks, the potential exists for our deposit levels to be volatile in 2021 due to the uncertain timing of the outflows of the stimulus related balances and the economic recovery. It is anticipated that current liquidity levels will remain robust due to our strong overnight funds sold position.

Average short-term borrowings increased $20.7 million over the third quarter of 2020 and $87.8 million over the fourth quarter of 2019, which reflected warehouse line borrowings used to support CCHL’s loans held for sale.

Capital

Shareowners’ equity was $320.8 million at December 31, 2020 compared to $339.4 million at September 30, 2020 and $327.0 million at December 31, 2019. For the full year of 2020, shareowners’ equity was positively impacted by net income of $31.6 million, a $1.8 million increase in the unrealized gain on investment securities, net adjustments totaling $1.4 million related to transactions under our stock compensation plans, stock compensation accretion of $0.9 million, and a $0.4 million increase in fair value of the interest rate swap related to subordinated debt. Shareowners’ equity was reduced by an $18.2 million increase in the accumulated other comprehensive loss for our pension plan, common stock dividends of $9.6 million ($0.57 per share), a $3.1 million (net of tax) adjustment to retained earnings for the adoption of CECL, reclassification of $9.4 million to temporary equity to increase the redemption value of the non-controlling interest in CCHL, and share repurchases of $2.0 million (99,952 shares).

At December 31, 2020, our total risk-based capital ratio was 17.30% compared to 17.88% at September 30, 2020 and 17.90% at December 31, 2019. Our common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 13.71%, 14.20%, and 14.47%, respectively, on these dates. Our leverage ratio was 9.33%, 9.64%, and 11.25%, respectively, on these dates. All of our regulatory capital ratios exceeded the threshold to be designated as “well-capitalized” under the Basel III capital standards. Further, our tangible common equity ratio was 6.25% at December 31, 2020 compared to 7.16% and 8.06% at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Our tangible capital ratio was unfavorably impacted at December 31, 2020 by the aforementioned annual adjustment to the other comprehensive loss for our pension plan which was negatively impacted due to the lower discount rate used to calculate the present value of the pension obligation. The lower discount rate reflected the significant decline in long-term interest rates in 2020.

About Capital City Bank Group, Inc.

Capital City Bank Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CCBG) is one of the largest publicly traded financial holding companies headquartered in Florida and has approximately $3.8 billion in assets. We provide a full range of banking services, including traditional deposit and credit services, mortgage banking, asset management, trust, merchant services, bankcards and securities brokerage services. Our bank subsidiary, Capital City Bank, was founded in 1895 and now has 57 banking offices and 86 ATMs/ITMs in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. For more information about Capital City Bank Group, Inc., visit www.ccbg.com.