Southern Indiana Business Report
JASPER – German American Bancorp Inc. (Nasdaq: GABC) reported first quarter earnings of $20.8 million, or $0.71 per share. This level of quarterly earnings reflected an increase of $11.7 million, or approximately 129% on a per share basis, from 2022 first quarter earnings of $9.1 million or $0.31 per share.
The first quarter of 2022 was largely impacted by transaction costs associated with the acquisition of Citizens Union Bancorp of Shelbyville Inc. (CUB) that closed effective Jan. 1, 2022. The first quarter 2023 earnings represented a 15% decline on a per share basis compared with the strong fourth quarter 2022 earnings of $24.4 million, or $0.83 per share.
The first quarter of 2023 provided a challenging operating/economic backdrop for the banking industry as focus went to stabilization of deposits, liquidity and capital. First quarter 2023 operating performance was highlighted by increased non-interest income, as compared to fourth quarter 2022, continued strong credit metrics, and non-agricultural organic loan growth.
However, from an earnings perspective, the increase in non-interest income was more than offset by lower net interest income and net interest margin resulting from higher deposit costs and a smaller earning asset base and by an increase in non-interest expense driven in part by somewhat seasonally higher operating costs, in each case, as compared to fourth quarter of 2022.
The net interest margin declined from 3.78% to 3.69%, or 9 basis points, during the first quarter of 2023 on a linked quarter basis as the funding cost increase of 25 basis points outpaced the earning asset yield increase of 16 basis points. The accelerated rise in the cost of funds in the first quarter of 2023 was driven by the continued historic pace of Federal Reserve interest rate increases, competitive deposit pricing in the marketplace, and a change in the Company’s deposit composition as customers looked for higher yield opportunities.
First quarter 2023 deposits declined approximately $195 million, or 4%, on a linked quarter basis compared to year-end 2022 with the core deposit base stabilizing mid first quarter 2023. The core deposit base, however, remains diverse with stable and manageable exposure to uninsured and uncollateralized deposits of approximately 21%.
During the first quarter of 2023, total loans were down $15.8 million on a linked quarter basis due primarily to seasonal reductions in agricultural lines of credit. However, loans in our commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, consumer, and residential mortgage portfolios at March 31, 2023, in aggregate, represented an increase of $23.0 million, or approximately 3% on an annualized basis, compared to Dec. 31, 2022. Credit metrics remained strong as non-performing assets were 0.24% of period end assets and non-performing loans totaled 0.39% of period end loans.
Operating revenue for the first quarter 2023 increased $1.3 million, or 10% compared to the fourth quarter 2022, driven by an increase in wealth management fees attributable to an increase in assets under management, an increase in insurance revenues driven by seasonal contingency revenue, and an increase in interchange fee income driven by increased customer card utilization.
The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share, which will be payable on May 20, 2023 to shareholders of record as of May 10, 2023. As previously reported, this dividend rate represents a 9% increase over the rate in effect during 2022.
D. Neil Dauby, German American’s president & CEO stated, “Despite the volatility the banking industry experienced in the last part of the first quarter, German American remains extremely well positioned with solid liquidity, strong capital and a diverse core deposit base which speaks to the strength and resilience of our Company. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our relationship-focused team of professionals, our customers and communities were well taken care of during this uncertain time. While we anticipate some potential recessionary headwinds in 2023, we remain confident in the strength of our Company and remain excited and committed to the vitality and growth of our Indiana and Kentucky communities.”