3
Income Taxes
We realized income
tax expense of $3.2 million (effective rate of 20.9%) for the third quarter of
2023 compared to $3.5 million
(effective rate of 19.6%) for the second quarter of 2023
and $3.1 million (effective rate of 21.4%) for the third quarter of 2022.
For
the first nine months of 2023, we realized income tax expense of $10.9 million
(effective rate of 20.7%) compared to $7.5 million
(effective rate of 20.3%) for the same period of 2022.
The increase in our effective tax rate for the third quarter of 2023 was
primarily due to a lower level of pre-tax income from CCHL in relation
to our consolidated income as the non-controlling interest
adjustment for CCHL is accounted for as a permanent tax adjustment.
Further, the second quarter of 2023 effective
rate reflected a
higher level of tax benefit accrued from an investment in a solar tax credit equity fund.
Absent discrete items or unexpected
variance in the timing of the tax benefit accrued from our solar tax credit
equity fund investment, we expect our annual effective tax
rate to approximate 20-21% for 2023.
Discussion of Financial Condition
Earning Assets
Average earning
assets totaled $3.877 billion for the third quarter of 2023, a decrease of $97.8 million, or
2.5%, from the second
quarter of 2023, and a decrease of $155.8 million, or 3.9%, from the fourth
quarter of 2022.
The decrease from both prior periods
was attributable to lower deposit balances (see below –
Deposits
).
The mix of earning assets continues to improve as overnight
funds are being utilized to fund loan growth.
Average loans
held for investment (“HFI”) increased $15.0 million, or 0.6%, over the second
quarter of 2023 and $233.3 million, or
9.6%, over the fourth quarter of 2022.
Period end loans increased $26.4 million, or 1.0%, over the second quarter of 2023
and
$168.2 million, or 6.7%, over the fourth quarter of 2022.
Compared to both prior periods, the loan growth was primarily in the
residential real estate category and was partially offset by lower indirect
auto and construction loan balances.
Allowance for Credit Losses
At September 30, 2023, the allowance for credit losses for HFI loans totaled $28.9
million compared to $28.0 million at June 30,
2023 and $24.7 million at December 31, 2022.
Activity within the allowance is provided on Page 9.
The increase in the allowance
over both prior periods was driven primarily by loan growth.
Further, the increase from December 31, 2022 reflected
a higher loss
rate for the residential real estate portfolio due to slower prepayment
speeds.
At September 30, 2023, the allowance represented
1.07% of HFI loans compared to 1.05% at June 30, 2023, and 0.98% at December 31,
2022.
Credit quality metrics remained strong for the quarter.
Nonperforming assets (nonaccrual loans and other real estate) totaled $4.7
million at September 30, 2023 compared to $6.6 million at June 30,
2023 and $2.7 million at December 31, 2022.
At September 30,
2023, nonperforming assets as a percent of total assets equaled 0.11%,
compared to 0.15% at June 30, 2023 and 0.06% at December
31, 2022.
Nonaccrual loans totaled $4.7 million at September 30, 2023, a $1.9 million
decrease from June 30, 2023 and a $2.4
million increase over December 31, 2022.
Further, classified loans totaled $21.8 million at September
30, 2023, a $6.8 million
increase over June 30, 2023 and a $2.5 million increase over December 31, 2022.
The increase in the current period was primarily
attributable to the downgrade of one hotel loan that is performing as agreed
on scheduled payments.
Deposits
Average total
deposits were $3.597 billion for the third quarter of 2023, a decrease of $122.7 million, or 3.3%,
from the second
quarter of 2023 and a decrease of $206.2 million, or 5.4%, from the fourth quarter
of 2022.
Compared to both prior periods, the
decreases were primarily attributable to lower noninterest bearing, savings, and
NOW balances, partially offset by higher money
market balances.
Compared to the second quarter of 2023, the decrease in NOW account balances was primarily
due to the seasonal
reduction in public fund balances held by our institutional and municipal
clients.
At September 30, 2023, total deposits were $3.540 billion, a decrease of $248.4
million, or 6.6%, from June 30, 2023 and a decline
of $398.9 million, or 10.1%, from December 31, 2022.
Our public fund deposit balances declined $205 million and $245 million
from June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively,
and reflected the seasonal decline in those balances which will begin to
increase in the fourth quarter as municipal tax receipts are received.
In addition, the decrease from June 30, 2023 reflected a short-
term deposit of $103 million (in the NOW category) made late in June by a municipal
client that was subsequently moved in mid-
July.
The remaining portion of the decrease reflected continued client spend of stimulus
savings and clients seeking higher yielding
investment products outside the Bank, a portion of which have moved to our
wealth division.
Additionally, compared to both
prior
periods, we realized a remix of deposit balances of $32 million and $99 million, respectively,
as noninterest bearing accounts
migrated into interest bearing accounts (primarily NOW and money market
accounts).