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Strategic Initiatives
.
In 2021, we initiated a new five-year strategic plan “2025 In Focus” that guide
s
us in the areas of client
experience, channel optimization, market expansion, and culture.
As part of 2025 In Focus, we aim to take our brand of
relationship banking to the next level, further deepen relationships within
our communities, expand into new higher growth
markets, diversify our revenue sources, invest in new technology that
will support the expansion of client relationships, scale
within our lines of business, and drive higher profitability.
We have implemented
initiatives in support of the strategic plan,
including the implementation of an integrated marketing software aimed at deepening
client relationships, continued our
comprehensive review of our banking office network, continued
expansion into new markets and further diversification of
revenues by expanding our residential mortgage banking and wealth businesses
.
Markets
.
We maintain a blend
of large and small markets in Florida and Georgia,
all in close proximity to major interstate
thoroughfares such as Interstates 10 and 75.
Our larger markets include Tallahassee
(Leon County, Florida),
Gainesville
(Alachua County, Florida),
Macon (Bibb County,
Georgia), and Suncoast (Hernando/Pasco/Citrus Counties, Florida).
The larger
employers in these markets are state and local governments, healthcare
providers, educational institutions, and small businesses,
providing stability and good growth dynamics that have historically grown
in excess of the national average.
We serve an
additional fourteen smaller, less competitive,
rural markets located on the outskirts of, and centered between, our larger markets
where we are positioned as a market leader.
In 7 of 11 markets in Florida and two of four Georgia
markets (excluding Northern
Arc of Atlanta markets entered into in 2022 and 2023),
we frequently rank within the top four banks in terms of deposit market
share.
Furthermore, in the counties in which we operate, we maintain an 7.7% deposit
market share in the Florida counties and
5.5% in the Georgia counties (excluding Northern Arc of Atlanta).
Our markets provide for a strong core deposit funding base, a
key differentiator and driver of our profitability and franchise
value.
Recent Acquisition/Expansion Activity
.
We have continued
our expansion into the Northern Arc of Atlanta, Georgia by opening
full-service offices in Marietta (Cobb County) in the fourth
quarter of 2022 and Duluth (Gwinnett County) in the second quarter
of 2023.
Additionally, we expanded
our presence in the Florida Panhandle by opening a full-service office
in Watersound,
Florida in the first quarter of 2023 and Panama City,
Florida (Lynn Haven) in the first quarter of
2024 and we plan to open
another full-service office in Panama City,
Florida (West Bay)
in the second half of 2024.
To expand our presence
and
commitment to our Gainesville market, we opened a third full-service banking
office in the area in early 2023.
During 2022 and
2023,
we hired leadership and banking teams in the Northern Arc and Walton
County office markets, including commercial
bankers, retail delivery support, private banking, wealth advisors, and
treasury professionals.
Further, CCHL loan originators will
reside in the Northern Arc and Walton
County offices.
On March 1, 2020, CCB acquired a 51% membership interest in Brand Mortgage
Group, LLC (“Brand”) which is now operated
as CCHL, a consolidated entity in the Company’s
financial statements. The terms of the transaction included a buyout call/put
option for CCB to purchase the remaining 49% of the membership interests in CCHL (“the
49% Interest”) that are held by
BMGBMG, LLC (“BMG”). The option requires 12 months advance notice
to the other party, and under the
terms of the option,
January 1, 2025 is the earliest date the transfer of the 49% Interest may be completed.
On December 20, 2023, BMG notified
CCB that BMG will exercise its put option and the transfer of the 49% Interest will become
effective on January 1, 2025.
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
For 2023, net income attributable to common shareowners totaled $52.3 million,
or $3.07 per diluted share, compared to net
income of $33.4 million, or $1.97 per diluted share, for 2022, and $33.4
million, or $1.98 per diluted share, for 2021.
The increase in net income attributable to common shareowners for 202
3
reflected higher net interest income of $34.0 million that
was partially offset by higher noninterest expense of $5.4 million,
higher income taxes of $5.2 million, lower noninterest income
of $3.6 million, and a $2.2 million increase in the provision for credit losses.
Net income attributable to common shareowners
included a $1.3 million increase in the deduction to record the 49% non-controlling
interest in the earnings of CCHL.
The increase in net income attributable to common shareowners for 202
2
was attributable to higher net interest income of $22.2
million, lower noninterest expense of $10.9 million, and lower income
taxes of $1.9 million, partially offset by a $9.0 million
increase in the provision for credit losses and lower noninterest income of $32.4
million.
Net income attributable to common
shareowners included a $6.4 million increase in the deduction to record the
49% non-controlling interest in the earnings of CCHL.
Below are
Summary Highlights
of our 2023 financial performance:
◾
Tax-equivalent
net interest income totaled $159.4 million for 2023 compared
to $125.3 million for 2022 driven by strong
loan growth and higher interest
rates, partially offset by higher deposit cost which was well controlled
at 48 basis points for
the year – net interest margin
was 4.05% for 2023 compared to 3.14% for 2022
◾
Credit quality metrics remained
strong throughout
the year – allowance coverage ratio increased from
0.98% to 1.10% -
net loan charge-offs were 18
basis points of average loans for both periods
◾
Noninterest income decreased
$3.6 million, or 4.8%, driven by lower wealth management fees reflective
of lower insurance
commissions (large policy sales in 2022) and
mortgage banking revenues (lower residential
loan originations attributable
to the higher interest rate environment)
◾
Noninterest expense increased
$5.4 million, or 3.6%, primarily due to higher compensation and occupancy expense
reflective of the addition of staffing and banking
offices in our new markets