SPARTA, Mich., July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. ((", ChoiceOne", , NASDAQ:COFS), the parent company for ChoiceOne Bank, reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023.

Financial Highlights

ChoiceOne reported net income of $5,213,000 and $10,846,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $5,615,000 and $11,143,000 for the same periods in 2022.
Diluted earnings per share were $0.69 and $1.44 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $0.75 and $1.49 per share in the same periods in the prior year.
Core loans, which exclude held for sale loans, loans to other financial institutions, and Paycheck Protection Program loans ("PPP"), grew organically by $14.8 million or 4.9% on an annualized basis during the second quarter of 2023 and $145.8 million or 13.5% since June 30, 2022. Loan interest income increased $3.5 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, despite the second quarter of 2022 being aided by $283,000 in PPP fees.
Loans to other financial institutions increased to $38.8 million as of June 30, 2023, compared to $37.4 million as of June 30, 2022. Loans to other financial institutions is comprised of a warehouse line of credit to facilitate mortgage loan originations and the interest rate fluctuates with the national mortgage market. This balance is short term in nature with an average life of under 30 days. Management believes the short-term structure and low credit risk of this asset is advantageous in the current rate environment.
Deposits, excluding brokered deposits, decreased by $103.5 million or 4.8% as of June 30, 2023 compared to June 30, 2022 and decreased $33.1 million or 1.6% compared to March 31, 2023. The decrease in deposits since June 30, 2022 was largely concentrated in the first quarter of 2023 as a result of a combination of customers using cash on hand for debt payoffs, seasonal tax and municipal bond payments, and customers seeking higher rates via money market securities or other investments. Deposit outflows have stabilized in the second quarter of 2023 with monthly growth of deposits in May and June of 2023. In the last 12 months ended June 30, 2023, approximately $39 million or 38% of the trailing 12 month deposit runoff has been transferred from bank deposits to the ChoiceOne Wealth department.

"Our excellent asset quality, core loan growth and strong pipeline of commercial and residential construction and development loans is due to the success of our experienced lending team. With increased competition for deposits, managing costs and liquidity is a key focus of our management team. We are being proactive with our customers to retain and grow core deposits and thoughtful with our wholesale funding strategy. The yield on our earning assets will continue to improve as our assets reprice over time which will help offset recent increased funding costs. Our team is engaging with customers and proving that our value is more than an interest rate." said Kelly Potes, Chief Executive Officer.

ChoiceOne reported net income of $5,213,000 and $10,846,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $5,615,000 and $11,143,000 for the same periods in 2022. Diluted earnings per share were $0.69 and $1.44 in the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to $0.75 and $1.49 per share in the same periods in the prior year. The increase in deposit costs during the first half of 2023 has negatively impacted earnings, offset by higher interest income from higher interest rates on loans and organic loan growth.

Total assets as of June 30, 2023, increased $73.8 million as compared to March 31, 2023. The asset growth during the second quarter is due to an increase in cash of $21.6 million, an increase in core loans of $14.8 million or 4.9% annualized during the second quarter of 2023, and an increase in loans to other financial institutions of $38.8 million in second quarter of 2023. Loans to other financial institutions is comprised of a warehouse line of credit to facilitate mortgage loan originations, and interest rates fluctuate with the national mortgage market. This balance is short term in nature with an average life of under 30 days. Management believes the short-term structure and low credit risk of this asset is advantageous in the current rate environment. Asset growth from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2023 of $123.5 million is due to an increase in cash of $36.5 million and an increase in core loans of $145.8 million or 13.5%.

Deposits, excluding brokered deposits, decreased by $103.5 million or 4.8% as of June 30, 2023 compared to June 30, 2022 and decreased $33.1 million or 1.6% compared to March 31, 2023. The decrease in deposits since June 30, 2022 was largely concentrated in the first quarter of 2023 as a result of a combination of customers using cash on hand for debt payoffs, seasonal tax and municipal bond payments, and customers seeking higher rates via money market securities or other investments. Deposit outflows have stabilized in the second quarter of 2023 with monthly growth of deposits in May and June of 2023. In the last 12 months ended June 30, 2023, approximately $39 million or 38% of the trailing 12-month deposit runoff has been transferred from bank deposits to the ChoiceOne Wealth department. During the second quarter of 2023, ChoiceOne borrowed $160 million from the Federal Reserve's Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP). This program provides a 1-year term at a fixed rate with the ability to prepay at any time without penalty. Collateral pledged is U.S. Treasuries, agency debt and mortgage-backed securities valued at par. The interest rate on the BTFP borrowings as of June 30, 2023 is 4.71% and fixed through May of 2024. Management elected to use the BTFP over other funding options due to the favorable interest rate and terms offered. When compared to an alternative borrowing at the FHLB at 5.56%, savings on a one-year time horizon is expected to be approximately $1.4 million dollars.

The cost of deposits has increased to 0.98% during the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to 0.62% and 0.19% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2022, respectively, due to rising short term interest rates and is expected to continue to increase as deposits reprice. ChoiceOne is actively managing these costs and expects rates paid on deposits to continue to lag the federal fund rate. Uninsured deposits total $700.3 million or 34.4% of deposits at June 30, 2023. Interest expense on borrowings for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, increased $1.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year, due to the decline in deposit balances and the increase in rates on borrowings. As a result, total cost of funds increased to 1.29% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to 0.79% in the first quarter of 2023 and 0.25% in the second quarter of 2022. ChoiceOne continues to be proactive in managing its liquidity position by using brokered deposits, the BTFP and FHLB advances to ensure ample liquidity to account for deposit fluctuations. At June 30, 2023, total available borrowing capacity from all sources was $791.7 million.

On June 30, 2023, ChoiceOne recorded a provision benefit of $250,000 largely due to the impact of improvements in the FOMC forecast for unemployment and GDP growth exceeding the provision required for loan growth. The ratio of the allowance for credit losses to total loans (excluding loans held for sale) was 1.15% compared to 1.24% on March 31, 2023. The liability for expected credit losses on unfunded loans and other commitments increased by $165,000 during the second quarter of 2023 due to growth in committed but unfunded loans. Asset quality continues to remain strong, with annualized net loan charge-offs to average loans of 0.02% and nonperforming loans to total loans (excluding loans held for sale) of 0.15%. As of June 30, 2023, the non owner occupied loans secured by office balance was $29.8 million or 2.4% of the core loan balance. Of this office CRE subset, $8.0 million or 27.0% is secured by medical facilities. The average office loan balance is under $1.0 million and all office loans were performing as of June 30, 2023.

Shareholders' equity totaled $179.2 million as of June 30, 2023, up from $166.5 million as of June 30, 2022, primarily due to a decline in the after-tax net unrealized loss on securities available for sale. ChoiceOne uses interest rate swaps to manage interest rate exposure to certain fixed assets and variable rate liabilities. On June 30, 2023, ChoiceOne had pay-fixed interest rate swaps with a total notional value of $401.0 million and a fair value of $11.2 million. These derivative instruments increase in value as long-term interest rates rise, which offsets the reduction in equity due to unrealized losses on securities available for sale. ChoiceOne Bank remains "well-capitalized" with a total risk-based capital ratio of 12.7% as of June 30, 2023, compared to 12.7% on June 30, 2022.

Total noninterest income declined by $120,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared to the same period in the prior year. This was largely due to a decline of $748,000 in gains on sales of loans for the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period in the prior year. With the rapid rise in interest rates, refinancing activity has slowed and the rate environment for mortgage loans has become increasingly competitive. This decline was offset by reduced losses on the sale of securities and a smaller decline in the change in market value of equity securities. Equity investments include local community bank stocks and Community Reinvestment Act bond mutual funds.

Total noninterest expense increased $721,000, or 2.7%, in the six months ended June 30, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in total noninterest expense was largely related to inflationary pressures on employee wages and benefits. ChoiceOne continues to monitor expenses and looks to improve our efficiency through automation and use of digital tools. ChoiceOne launched an enhanced treasury services online platform for business clients during the first quarter of 2023. This new platform targets mid-sized businesses and municipalities who require enhanced reporting, security, and payment capabilities. Management believes that continuing to invest in our technology and people is the right way to maintain sustainable growth.

About ChoiceOne

ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Sparta, Michigan and the parent corporation of ChoiceOne Bank, Member FDIC. ChoiceOne Bank operates 36 offices in parts of Kent, Lapeer, Macomb, Muskegon, Newaygo, Ottawa, and St. Clair counties. ChoiceOne Bank offers insurance and investment products through its subsidiary, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. For more information, please visit Investor Relations at ChoiceOne's website at choiceone.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "is likely," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "may," "could," "look forward," "continue", "future", "will" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward looking statements. These statements reflect current beliefs as to the expected outcomes of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. These statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("risk factors") that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. Therefore, actual results and outcomes may materially differ from what may be expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Furthermore, ChoiceOne undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Risk factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors described in Item 1A in ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands)	June 30, 2023		March 31, 2023		June 30, 2022
Cash and cash equivalents	$	76,810	$	55,189	$	40,296
Securities Held to Maturity		420,549		422,876		429,675
Securities Available for Sale		542,932		554,306		582,987
Loans held for sale		8,924		3,603		10,628
Loans to other financial institutions		38,838		-		37,422
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses		1,210,808		1,195,518		1,073,973
Premises and equipment		29,085		28,633		29,122
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies		44,510		44,241		43,774
Goodwill		59,946		59,946		59,946
Core deposit intangible		2,304		2,557		3,358
Other assets		49,020		43,017		49,024

Total Assets	$	2,483,726	$	2,409,886	$	2,360,205

Noninterest-bearing deposits	$	544,925	$	554,699	$	578,927
Interest-bearing deposits		1,490,093		1,513,429		1,559,577
Brokered deposits		51,370		37,773		-
Borrowings		160,000		85,000		7,000
Subordinated debentures		35,385		35,323		35,140
Other liabilities		22,713		14,950		13,101

Total Liabilities		2,304,486		2,241,174		2,193,745

Common stock and paid-in capital, no par value; shares authorized: 15,000,000; shares outstanding: 7,534,658 at June 30, 2023, 7,521,749 at March 31, 2023, and 7,503,072 at June 30, 2022		172,880		172,564		171,804
Retained earnings		67,281		64,026		59,728
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net		(60,921)		(67,878)		(65,072)
Shareholders' Equity		179,240		168,712		166,460

Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity	$	2,483,726	$	2,409,886	$	2,360,205

Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)	June 30,				June 30,
	2023		2022		2023		2022
Interest income
Loans, including fees	$	15,978	$	12,523	$	30,851	$	24,821
Securities:
Taxable		5,378		3,522		10,291		7,029
Tax exempt		1,389		1,559		2,824		3,214
Other		571		62		748		76
Total interest income		23,316		17,666		44,714		35,140

Interest expense
Deposits		5,056		996		8,332		1,779
Advances from Federal Home Loan Bank		621		2		1,226		3
Other		1,548		379		2,053		748
Total interest expense		7,225		1,377		11,611		2,530

Net interest income		16,091		16,289		33,103		32,610
Provision for credit losses on loans		(415)		-		(106)		-
Provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments		165		-		(119)		-
Net Provision for credit losses expense		(250)		-		(225)		-
Net interest income after provision		16,341		16,289		33,328		32,610

Noninterest income
Customer service charges		2,271		2,353		4,538		4,542
Insurance and investment commissions		172		233		368		438
Gains on sales of loans		540		887		943		1,691
Net gains (losses) on sales of securities		-		(427)		-		(427)
Net gains on sales and write downs of other assets		133		1		136		172
Earnings on life insurance policies		269		254		532		534
Trust income		196		176		380		354
Change in market value of equity securities		(385)		(327)		(322)		(683)
Other		289		280		581		655
Total noninterest income		3,485		3,430		7,156		7,276

Noninterest expense
Salaries and benefits		7,837		7,537		15,920		15,143
Occupancy and equipment		1,507		1,518		3,150		3,143
Data processing		1,681		1,578		3,363		3,322
Professional fees		619		559		1,240		1,069
Supplies and postage		197		166		388		357
Advertising and promotional		155		147		304		279
Intangible amortization		253		322		505		604
FDIC insurance		220		225		520		450
Other		1,104		1,105		2,178		2,480
Total noninterest expense		13,573		13,157		27,568		26,847

Income before income tax		6,253		6,562		12,916		13,039
Income tax expense		1,040		947		2,070		1,896

Net income	$	5,213	$	5,615	$	10,846	$	11,143

Basic earnings per share	$	0.69	$	0.75	$	1.44	$	1.49
Diluted earnings per share	$	0.69	$	0.75	$	1.44	$	1.49
Dividends declared per share	$	0.26	$	0.25	$	0.52	$	0.50

Other Selected Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

	Quarterly
Earnings	2023 2nd Qtr.		2023 1st Qtr.		2022 4th Qtr.		2022 3rd Qtr.		2022 2nd Qtr.
(in thousands except per share data)
Net interest income	$	16,091	$	17,012	$	17,366	$	17,338	$	16,289
Net provision expense		(250)		25		150		100		-
Noninterest income		3,485		3,671		3,749		3,047		3,430
Noninterest expense		13,573		13,995		13,215		13,416		13,157
Net income before federal income tax expense		6,253		6,663		7,750		6,869		6,562
Income tax expense		1,040		1,030		1,066		1,056		947
Net income		5,213		5,633		6,684		5,813		5,615
Basic earnings per share		0.69		0.75		0.89		0.77		0.75
Diluted earnings per share		0.69		0.75		0.89		0.77		0.75

End of period balances	2023 2nd Qtr.		2023 1st Qtr.		2022 4th Qtr.		2022 3rd Qtr.		2022 2nd Qtr.
(in thousands)
Gross loans	$	1,273,152	$	1,214,186	$	1,194,616	$	1,141,319	$	1,129,439
Loans held for sale (1)		8,924		3,603		4,834		8,848		10,628
Loans to other financial institutions (2)		38,838		-		-		70		37,422
PPP loans (3)		-		-		-		-		1,758
Core loans (gross loans excluding 1, 2, and 3 above)		1,225,390		1,210,583		1,189,782		1,132,401		1,079,631
Allowance for loan losses		14,582		15,065		7,619		7,457		7,416
Securities available for sale		542,932		554,306		546,896		546,627		582,987
Securities held to maturity		420,549		422,876		425,906		428,205		429,675
Other interest-earning assets		41,032		30,999		15,447		21,744		9,532
Total earning assets (before allowance)		2,277,665		2,222,367		2,182,866		2,137,895		2,151,633
Total assets		2,483,726		2,409,886		2,385,915		2,363,529		2,360,205
Noninterest-bearing deposits		544,925		554,699		599,579		599,360		578,927
Interest-bearing deposits		1,490,093		1,513,429		1,518,424		1,557,294		1,559,577
Brokered deposits		51,370		37,773		-		-		-
Total deposits		2,086,388		2,105,901		2,118,003		2,156,654		2,138,504
Deposits excluding brokered		2,035,018		2,068,128		2,118,003		2,156,654		2,138,504
Total subordinated debt		35,385		35,323		35,262		35,201		35,140
Total borrowed funds		160,000		85,000		50,000		-		7,000
Other interest-bearing liabilities		11,985		-		-		-		-
Total interest-bearing liabilities		1,748,833		1,671,525		1,603,686		1,592,495		1,601,717
Shareholders' equity		179,240		168,712		168,874		156,657		166,460

Average Balances	2023 2nd Qtr.		2023 1st Qtr.		2022 4th Qtr.		2022 3rd Qtr.		2022 2nd Qtr.
(in thousands)
Loans	$	1,218,860	$	1,202,268	$	1,169,605	$	1,128,679	$	1,076,934
Securities		1,053,191		1,059,747		1,072,594		1,079,584		1,098,419
Other interest-earning assets		41,075		19,452		14,809		45,210		40,728
Total earning assets (before allowance)		2,313,126		2,281,467		2,257,008		2,253,473		2,216,081
Total assets		2,422,567		2,391,344		2,373,851		2,389,550		2,361,479
Noninterest-bearing deposits		534,106		566,628		605,318		593,793		578,943
Interest-bearing deposits		1,472,990		1,530,313		1,522,510		1,576,240		1,555,721
Brokered deposits		49,679		12,762		-		-		-
Total deposits		2,056,775		2,109,703		2,127,828		2,170,033		2,134,664
Total subordinated debt		35,352		35,290		35,230		35,168		35,095
Total borrowed funds		144,231		63,122		36,773		2,414		5,765
Other interest-bearing liabilities		3,763		-		-		-		-
Total interest-bearing liabilities		1,706,015		1,641,487		1,594,513		1,613,822		1,596,581
Shareholders' equity		171,912		167,952		160,284		164,758		177,085

Performance Ratios	2023 2nd Qtr.			2023 1st Qtr.			2022 4th Qtr.			2022 3rd Qtr.			2022 2nd Qtr.
Return on average assets		0.86	%		0.94	%		1.13	%		0.97	%		0.95	%
Return on average equity		12.13	%		13.42	%		16.68	%		14.11	%		12.68	%
Return on average tangible common equity		18.31	%		20.64	%		26.63	%		21.96	%		18.87	%
Net interest margin (fully tax-equivalent)		2.86	%		3.09	%		3.15	%		3.15	%		3.02	%
Efficiency ratio		65.92	%		65.40	%		60.15	%		61.06	%		61.43	%
Cost of funds		1.29	%		0.79	%		0.59	%		0.35	%		0.25	%
Cost of deposits		0.98	%		0.62	%		0.47	%		0.29	%		0.19	%
Cost of interest bearing liabilities		1.69	%		1.08	%		0.82	%		0.48	%		0.34	%
Shareholders' equity to total assets		7.22	%		7.00	%		7.08	%		6.63	%		7.05	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets		4.83	%		4.52	%		4.57	%		4.07	%		4.49	%
Full-time equivalent employees		380			376			376			383			380

Capital Ratios ChoiceOne Financial Services Inc.	2023 2nd Qtr.			2023 1st Qtr.			2022 4th Qtr.			2022 3rd Qtr.			2022 2nd Qtr.
Total capital (to risk weighted assets)		13.2	%		13.5	%		13.8	%		13.7	%		13.8	%
Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)		10.5	%		10.7	%		11.1	%		10.9	%		11.0	%
Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)		10.8	%		11.0	%		11.4	%		11.2	%		11.3	%
Tier 1 capital (to average assets)		7.7	%		7.7	%		7.9	%		7.6	%		7.5	%

Capital Ratios ChoiceOne Bank	2023 2nd Qtr.			2023 1st Qtr.			2022 4th Qtr.			2022 3rd Qtr.			2022 2nd Qtr.
Total capital (to risk weighted assets)		12.7	%		13.0	%		13.0	%		12.8	%		12.7	%
Common equity Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)		12.2	%		12.5	%		12.5	%		12.3	%		12.2	%
Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets)		12.2	%		12.5	%		12.5	%		12.3	%		12.2	%
Tier 1 capital (to average assets)		8.7	%		8.7	%		8.7	%		8.3	%		8.1	%

Asset Quality	2023 2nd Qtr.			2023 1st Qtr.			2022 4th Qtr.			2022 3rd Qtr.			2022 2nd Qtr.
(in thousands)
Net loan charge-offs (recoveries)	$	67		$	28		$	(12)		$	59		$	185
Annualized net loan charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans		0.02	%		0.01	%		0.00	%		0.02	%		0.07	%
Allowance for loan losses	$	14,582		$	15,065		$	7,619		$	7,457		$	7,416
Unfunded commitment liability	$	3,156		$	2,991		$	-		$	-		$	-
Allowance to loans (excludes held for sale)		1.15	%		1.24	%		0.64	%		0.66	%		0.66	%
Non-Accruing loans	$	1,581		$	1,596		$	1,263		$	1,197		$	1,242
Nonperforming loans (includes OREO)	$	1,847		$	1,726		$	2,666		$	2,628		$	2,714
Nonperforming loans to total loans (excludes held for sale)		0.15	%		0.14	%		0.22	%		0.23	%		0.24	%
Nonperforming assets to total assets		0.07	%		0.07	%		0.11	%		0.11	%		0.11	%

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SOURCE ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc.

ChoiceOne Reports Second Quarter 2023 Results