CW Bancorp Reports Record First Quarter 2021 with EPS of $0.99 and ROTE of 21.40%

IRVINE, Calif.--()--CW Bancorp (OTC: CWBK), the parent company (“the Company”) of CommerceWest Bank (the “Bank”) reported consolidated net income for the first quarter of 2021 of $3,647,000 or $0.99 a share as compared to $1,123,000 or $0.30 a share for the first quarter of 2020, an EPS increase of 230%.

Key Financial Results for the three months ended March 31, 2021:

  • Record net income growth of 225%
  • Record EPS of $0.99 up 230%
  • ROA of 1.26% up 66%
  • ROTE of 21.40% up 198%
  • Record deposit growth of $503 million up 89%
  • Record loan growth of $227 million up 50%
  • Record efficiency ratio of 41.78%
  • Net interest income up 31%
  • Interest expense down 52%
  • Cost of funds of 0.14% down 77%
  • Zero nonperforming loans
  • 45 quarters of consecutive profits
  • ALLL to total loans ratio (net of PPP loans) of 1.79%
  • Noninterest-bearing deposits as percent of total deposits at 61%

Mr. Ivo Tjan, Chairman and CEO, said, “The Bank has improved its earnings power over the last twelve months and our core earnings reflect this with net interest income growth of 31%, ROA of 1.26% and a ROTE of 21.40%. Our company had strong revenue and balance sheet growth with a unique business model that has boded well for us during a world-wide pandemic and increased usage in online or mobile banking.”

Mr. Tjan continued, “We have stayed true to our business model and kept focused on our core competency. Over the years, the Bank has continued investing in a digital banking platform, both for our clients and for our employees, and it has served us well. We were well ahead of the curve with our digital strategy and believe the banking environment has been forever changed. We look forward to a bright future with continued market share growth in California.”

Total assets increased $546 million as of March 31, 2021, an increase of 86% as compared to the same period one year ago. Total loans increased $227 million as of March 31, 2021, an increase of 50% over the prior year. Cash and due from banks increased $314 million or 318% from the prior year. Total investment securities increased $6.3 million, an increase of 7% from the prior year.

Total deposits increased $502.8 million as of March 31, 2021, an increase of 89% from March 31, 2020. Non-interest-bearing deposits increased $340.7 million as of March 31, 2021, an increase of 111% over the prior year. Interest bearing deposits increased $162.1 million as of March 31, 2021, an increase of 62% over the prior period.

Interest income was $7,568,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to $6,251,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of 21.0%. Interest expense was $372,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 as compared to $769,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, a decrease of 52%. Ms. Leeann Cochran, Executive Vice President and CFO, commented, “The Bank has been strategic in reducing its cost of funds. We have rolled off high-cost deposit accounts and have grown our non-interest-bearing deposit relationships, which currently make up 61% of the Bank’s total deposits.”

Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $7,196,000 as compared to $5,482,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, an increase of 31%. The net interest margin decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2021. It decreased from 3.96% in 2020 to 2.65% in 2021, a decrease of 33%, largely due to PPP loans which are earning 1.0% interest.

There was no provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2021 compared to $2,143,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, a decrease of 100%. The allowance for loan losses (net of PPP loans) to total loans ratio increased from 1.64% as of March 31, 2020 to 1.79% as of March 31, 2021, an increase of 9%.

Non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $1,107,000 compared to $1,149,000 for the same period last year, a decrease of 4%.

Non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was $3,499,000 compared to $3,289,000 for the same period last year, an increase of 6%.

The efficiency ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2021 was 41.78% compared to 49.02% in 2020, which represents a decrease of 15%. The efficiency ratio illustrates that for every dollar made for the three-month period ending March 31, 2021, it cost $0.42 to make it, as compared to $0.49 one year ago.

Capital ratios for the Bank remain above the levels required for a “well capitalized” institution as designated by regulatory agencies. As of March 31, 2021, the tier 1 leverage ratio was 7.46%, the common equity tier 1 capital ratio was 14.89%, the tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 14.89% and the total risk-based capital ratio was 16.15%.

CommerceWest Bank is a California based full-service business bank with a unique vision and culture of focusing exclusively on the business community by delivering on customized products and services. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Irvine, California, the Bank serves businesses throughout the state of California. We provide a wide range of commercial banking services, including remote deposit solution, online banking, mobile banking, lines of credit, M&A / working capital loans, commercial real estate loans, SBA loans and treasury management services.

Mission Statement: CommerceWest Bank will create a complete banking experience for each client, catering to businesses and their specific banking needs, while accommodating our clients and providing them high-quality, low stress and personally tailored banking and financial services.

Please visit www.cwbk.com to learn more about the bank. “BANK ON THE DIFFERENCE”

Statements concerning future performance, developments or events, expectations for growth and income forecasts, and any other guidance on future periods, constitute forward-looking statements that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from stated expectations. Specific factors include, but are not limited to, loan production, balance sheet management, expanded net interest margin, the ability to control costs and expenses, interest rate changes, financial policies of the United States government and general economic conditions. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect future events or developments.

FIRST QUARTER REPORT - MARCH 31, 2021 (Unaudited)
%
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET Increase
(dollars in thousands) March 31, 2021 March 31, 2020 (Decrease)
 
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks

$

413,101

 

$

98,797

 

318

%

Securities available for sale

 

75,354

 

 

70,115

 

7

%

Securities held-to-maturity

 

1,100

 

 

-

 

0

%

 
Loans

 

681,543

 

 

454,916

 

50

%

Less allowance for loan losses

 

(9,386

)

 

(7,473

)

26

%

Loans, net

 

672,157

 

 

447,443

 

50

%

 
Bank premises and equipment, net

 

924

 

 

694

 

33

%

Other assets

 

20,910

 

 

20,143

 

4

%

Total assets

$

1,183,546

 

$

637,192

 

86

%

 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Non-interest bearing deposits

$

648,006

 

$

307,262

 

111

%

Interest bearing deposits

 

421,907

 

 

259,860

 

62

%

Total deposits

 

1,069,913

 

 

567,122

 

89

%

Subordinated debenture

 

32,500

 

 

-

 

0

%

Other liabilities

 

9,283

 

 

6,458

 

44

%

 

1,111,696

 

 

573,580

 

94

%

Stockholders' equity

 

71,850

 

 

63,612

 

13

%

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

1,183,546

 

$

637,192

 

86

%

 
Shares outstanding at end of period

 

3,558,292

 

 

3,568,199

 

Book value per share

$

19.47

 

$

17.24

 

Total loans to total deposits

 

63.70

%

 

80.21

%

ALLL to total loans (net of PPP loans)

 

1.79

%

 

1.64

%

Nonperforming assets (non-accrual loans & OREO)

$

-

 

$

53

 

 
COMMERCEWEST BANK CAPITAL RATIOS
Tier 1 leverage ratio

 

7.46

%

 

9.82

%

Common equity tier 1 capital ratio

 

14.89

%

 

11.63

%

Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio

 

14.89

%

 

11.63

%

Total risk-based capital ratio

 

16.15

%

 

12.88

%

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (Unaudited) Three Months Ended Increase
(dollars in thousands except share and per share data) Mar 31, 2021 Mar 31, 2020 (Decrease)
 
INTEREST INCOME
Loans

$

6,798

 

$

5,438

 

25

%

Investment securities

 

460

 

 

479

 

-4

%

Fed funds sold and other

 

310

 

 

334

 

-7

%

Total interest income

 

7,568

 

 

6,251

 

21

%

 
INTEREST EXPENSE
Deposits

 

304

 

 

765

 

-60

%

Subordinated debenture

 

68

 

 

0

 

-

 

Other borrowings

 

-

 

 

4

 

-100

%

Total interest expense

 

372

 

 

769

 

-52

%

 
NET INTEREST INCOME BEFORE LOAN LOSS PROVISION

 

7,196

 

 

5,482

 

31

%

 
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES

 

-

 

 

2,143

 

-100

%

 
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER LOAN LOSS PROVISION

 

7,196

 

 

3,339

 

116

%

 
NON-INTEREST INCOME

 

1,107

 

 

1,149

 

-4

%

 
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE

 

3,499

 

 

3,289

 

6

%

 
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

4,804

 

 

1,199

 

301

%

 
INCOME TAXES

 

1,157

 

 

76

 

1422

%

 
 
NET INCOME

$

3,647

 

$

1,123

 

225

%

 
Basic earnings per share

$

1.02

 

$

0.31

 

229

%

Diluted earnings per share

$

0.99

 

$

0.30

 

230

%

Return on Assets

 

1.26

%

 

0.76

%

66

%

Return on Equity

 

20.50

%

 

6.85

%

199

%

Return on Tangible Equity

 

21.40

%

 

7.18

%

198

%

Efficiency Ratio

 

41.78

%

 

49.02

%

-15

%

Cost of Funds

 

0.14

%

 

0.60

%

-77

%

Net Interest Margin

 

2.65

%

 

3.96

%

-33

%

 

Contacts

Bancorp Contact
Mr. Ivo A. Tjan, CEO
Ms. Leeann Cochran, CFO
Telephone: (866) 521-CWBK
E-mail: InvestorRelations@cwbk.com
Website: www.cwbk.com
"Bank on the Difference"

Contacts

Bancorp Contact
Mr. Ivo A. Tjan, CEO
Ms. Leeann Cochran, CFO
Telephone: (866) 521-CWBK
E-mail: InvestorRelations@cwbk.com
Website: www.cwbk.com
"Bank on the Difference"