WILLIAMSPORT, Pa., April 28, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:PWOD)

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. achieved net income of $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, resulting in basic earnings per share of $0.66 and diluted earnings per share of $0.64.

Highlights

Net income, as reported under GAAP, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $4.7 million, compared to $3.4 million for the same period of 2022. Results for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to 2022 were impacted by a decrease in after-tax securities losses of $16,000 (from a loss of $48,000 to a loss of $32,000) for the period. In addition, bank-owned life insurance income increased due to a gain on death benefit of $380,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2023, while an after-tax loss of $201,000 related to a branch closure negatively impacted the three months ended March 31, 2022.
The provision for credit losses decreased $79,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 to a provision of $71,000 compared to a provision of $150,000 for the 2022 period. The decrease in the provision for credit losses was primarily due to improving loan portfolio credit metrics and a minimal level of net loan charge-offs.
Basic earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $0.66 and diluted earnings per share was $0.64. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2022 were $0.49.
Annualized return on average assets was 0.92% for three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to 0.72% for the corresponding period of 2022.
Annualized return on average equity was 11.12% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to 8.17% for the corresponding period of 2022.

Net Income

Net income from core operations ("core earnings"), which is a non-generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) measure of net income excluding net securities gains or losses, was $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to $3.5 million for the same period of 2022. Core earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $0.66 basic and $0.64 diluted, compared to $0.50 basic and diluted core earnings per share for the same period of 2022. Annualized core return on average assets and core return on average equity were 0.93% and 11.19% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to 0.73% and 8.28% for the corresponding period of 2022. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures of core earnings, core return on assets, core return on equity, and core earnings per share described in this press release to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of this press release.

Net Interest Margin

The net interest margin for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was 3.10%, compared to 2.93% for the corresponding period of 2022. The increase in the net interest margin for the three month period was driven by an increase in earning asset yield of 105 basis points ("bps") as the yield on earning assets increased throughout 2022 and during 2023 due to the rate increases enacted by the Federal Open Market Committee ("FOMC"). The three month period ended March 31, 2023 was impacted by an increase of 93 bps in the yield earned on the securities portfolio as legacy securities matured with the funds reinvested at higher rates. The FOMC rate increases during 2022 and 2023 contributed to the rate paid on interest-bearing deposits increasing 97 bps for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the corresponding period of 2022. Short-term borrowings increased in volume and rate paid as this funding source was utilized to provide funding for the growth in the loan portfolio resulting in an increase of $1.4 million in expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared to the same period of 2022.

Assets

Total assets increased to $2.1 billion at March 31, 2023, an increase of $148.3 million compared to March 31, 2022. Cash and cash equivalents decreased $177.2 million as interest-bearing accounts in other financial institutions decreased $133.1 million and fed funds sold decreased $50.0 million as excess liquidity was primarily utilized to fund the growth in the loan portfolio. Net loans increased $296.3 million to $1.7 billion at March 31, 2023 compared to March 31, 2022, as an emphasis was placed on commercial loan growth coupled with a significant increase in indirect auto lending. The investment portfolio increased $26.3 million from March 31, 2022 to March 31, 2023 as a portion of the excess cash liquidity was invested primarily into short and medium-term municipal bonds with a maturity of 10 years or less.

Non-performing Loans

The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans ratio decreased to 0.28% at March 31, 2023 from 0.38% at March 31, 2022, as non-performing loans decreased to $4.8 million at March 31, 2023 from $5.3 million at March 31, 2022. The majority of non-performing loans involve loans that are either in a secured position and have sureties with a strong underlying financial position or have been classified as impaired and have a specific allocation recorded within the allowance for loan losses. Net loan charge-offs of $123,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 impacted the allowance for loan losses, which was 0.69% of total loans at March 31, 2023 compared to 1.00% at March 31, 2022 (prior to the adoption of CECL).

Deposits

Deposits increased $26.4 million to $1.6 billion at March 31, 2023 compared to March 31, 2022. Noninterest-bearing deposits decreased $11.8 million to $502.4 million at March 31, 2023 compared to March 31, 2022. Core deposits declined slightly as deposits shifted from core deposit accounts into time deposits as market rates increased due to the FOMC rate increases and increased competition for deposits. Core deposit gathering efforts remained focused on increasing the utilization of electronic (internet and mobile) deposit banking among our customers. Utilization of internet and mobile banking has increased due to these efforts coupled with a change in consumer behavior over the past several years. Interest-bearing deposits increased $38.2 million from March 31, 2022 to March 31, 2023 primarily due to increased utilization of brokered deposits of $28.9 million as this funding source was utilized to supplement the funding of the loan portfolio growth, while reducing the need to draw upon available borrowing lines. A campaign to attract time deposits with a maturity of ten to twenty-four months was started during the latter part of 2022 and has continued during the first three months of 2023.

Shareholders' Equity

Shareholders' equity increased $5.5 million to $174.0 million at March 31, 2023 compared to March 31, 2022. Accumulated other comprehensive loss of $12.0 million at March 31, 2023 increased from a loss of $6.5 million at March 31, 2022 as a result of a $7.9 million net unrealized loss on available for sale securities at March 31, 2023 compared to an unrealized loss of $3.1 million at March 31, 2022 coupled with an increase in loss of $638,000 in the defined benefit plan obligation. The current level of shareholders' equity equates to a book value per share of $24.64 at March 31, 2023 compared to $23.81 at March 31, 2022, and an equity to asset ratio of 8.42% at March 31, 2023 and 8.79% at March 31, 2022. Dividends declared for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 were $0.32 per share.

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Jersey Shore State Bank, which operates sixteen branch offices providing financial services in Lycoming, Clinton, Centre, Montour, Union, and Blair Counties, and Luzerne Bank, which operates eight branch offices providing financial services in Luzerne County, and United Insurance Solutions, LLC, which offers insurance products. Investment and insurance products are offered through Jersey Shore State Bank's subsidiary, The M Group, Inc. D/B/A The Comprehensive Financial Group.

NOTE: This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). Management uses the non-GAAP measure of net income from core operations in its analysis of the company's performance. This measure, as used by the Company, adjusts net income determined in accordance with GAAP to exclude the effects of special items, including significant gains or losses that are unusual in nature such as net securities gains and losses. Because these certain items and their impact on the Company's performance are difficult to predict, management believes presentation of financial measures excluding the impact of such items provides useful supplemental information in evaluating the operating results of the Company's core businesses. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies.

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" including statements concerning plans, objectives, future events or performance and assumptions and other statements, which are statements other than statements of historical fact. The Company cautions readers that the following important factors, among others, may have affected and could in the future affect actual results and could cause actual results for subsequent periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of the Company herein: (i) the effect of changes in laws and regulations, including federal and state banking laws and regulations, and the associated costs of compliance with such laws and regulations either currently or in the future as applicable; (ii) the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies as well as by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or of changes in the Company's organization, compensation and benefit plans; (iii) the effect on the Company's competitive position within its market area of the increasing consolidation within the banking and financial services industries, including the increased competition from larger regional and out-of-state banking organizations as well as non-bank providers of various financial services; (iv) the effect of changes in interest rates; (v) the effects of health emergencies, including the spread of infectious diseases or pandemics; or (vi) the effect of changes in the business cycle and downturns in the local, regional or national economies. For a list of other factors which could affect the Company's results, see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including "Item 1A. Risk Factors," set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

Previous press releases and additional information can be obtained from the Company's website at www.pwod.com.

Contact:	Richard A. Grafmyre, Chief Executive Officer
	110 Reynolds Street
	Williamsport, PA 17702
	570-322-1111	e-mail: pwod@pwod.com

PENNS WOODS BANCORP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
	March 31,
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)		2023			2022		% Change
ASSETS:
Noninterest-bearing balances	$	31,701		$	25,717		23.27	%
Interest-bearing balances in other financial institutions		9,945			143,086		(93.05	)%
Federal funds sold		—			50,000		(100.00	)%
Total cash and cash equivalents		41,646			218,803		(80.97	)%

Investment debt securities, available for sale, at fair value		197,190			175,674		12.25	%
Investment equity securities, at fair value		1,163			1,229		(5.37	)%
Restricted investment in bank stock, at fair value		18,656			13,795		35.24	%
Loans held for sale		1,705			1,360		25.37	%
Loans		1,700,023			1,405,966		20.91	%
Allowance for loan losses		(11,734	)		(14,023	)	(16.32	)%
Loans, net		1,688,289			1,391,943		21.29	%
Premises and equipment, net		31,602			33,259		(4.98	)%
Accrued interest receivable		9,357			8,129		15.11	%
Bank-owned life insurance		33,359			33,953		(1.75	)%
Investment in limited partnerships		8,529			4,600		85.41	%
Goodwill		16,450			17,104		(3.82	)%
Intangibles		292			437		(33.18	)%
Operating lease right of use asset		2,635			2,795		(5.72	)%
Deferred tax asset		5,741			4,569		25.65	%
Other assets		8,529			9,159		(6.88	)%
TOTAL ASSETS	$	2,065,143		$	1,916,809		7.74	%

LIABILITIES:
Interest-bearing deposits	$	1,136,483		$	1,098,265		3.48	%
Noninterest-bearing deposits		502,352			514,130		(2.29	)%
Total deposits		1,638,835			1,612,395		1.64	%

Short-term borrowings		97,102			6,634		1,363.70	%
Long-term borrowings		132,738			112,918		17.55	%
Accrued interest payable		1,172			471		148.83	%
Operating lease liability		2,690			2,847		(5.51	)%
Other liabilities		18,636			13,117		42.08	%
TOTAL LIABILITIES		1,891,173			1,748,382		8.17	%

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock, no par value, 3,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued		—			—		n/a
Common stock, par value $5.55, 22,500,000 shares authorized; 7,570,086 and 7,554,567 shares issued; 7,059,861 and 7,074,342 shares outstanding		42,057			41,969		0.21	%
Additional paid-in capital		54,572			54,191		0.70	%
Retained earnings		102,194			90,928		12.39	%
Accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Net unrealized loss on available for sale securities		(7,928	)		(3,074	)	(157.91	)%
Defined benefit plan		(4,110	)		(3,472	)	(18.38	)%
Treasury stock at cost, 510,225 and 480,225		(12,815	)		(12,115	)	5.78	%
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY		173,970			168,427		3.29	%
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	2,065,143		$	1,916,809		7.74	%

PENNS WOODS BANCORP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)		2023			2022		% Change
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME:
Loans including fees	$	18,005		$	13,038		38.10	%
Investment securities:
Taxable		1,218			737		65.26	%
Tax-exempt		178			164		8.54	%
Dividend and other interest income		463			336		37.80	%
TOTAL INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME		19,864			14,275		39.15	%

INTEREST EXPENSE:
Deposits		3,372			788		327.92	%
Short-term borrowings		1,440			1		n/m
Long-term borrowings		754			633		19.12	%
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE		5,566			1,422		291.42	%

NET INTEREST INCOME		14,298			12,853		11.24	%

PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES		71			150		(52.67	)%

NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER (RECOVERY) PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES		14,227			12,703		12.00	%

NON-INTEREST INCOME:
Service charges		496			495		0.20	%
Debt securities losses, available for sale		(61	)		(2	)	(2,950.00	)%
Net equity securities gains (losses}		21			(59	)	135.59	%
Bank-owned life insurance		556			170		227.06	%
Gain on sale of loans		231			345		(33.04	)%
Insurance commissions		165			170		(2.94	)%
Brokerage commissions		165			200		(17.50	)%
Loan broker income		170			541		(68.58	)%
Debit card income		335			345		(2.90	)%
Other		179			207		(13.53	)%
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME		2,257			2,412		(6.43	)%

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:
Salaries and employee benefits		6,176			6,264		(1.40	)%
Occupancy		866			910		(4.84	)%
Furniture and equipment		846			892		(5.16	)%
Software amortization		183			253		(27.67	)%
Pennsylvania shares tax		248			389		(36.25	)%
Professional fees		688			538		27.88	%
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation deposit insurance		245			202		21.29	%
Marketing		155			64		142.19	%
Intangible amortization		35			43		(18.60	)%
Other		1,456			1,452		0.28	%
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE		10,898			11,007		(0.99	)%
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION		5,586			4,108		35.98	%
INCOME TAX PROVISION		928			676		37.28	%
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS'	$	4,658		$	3,432		35.72	%
EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC	$	0.66		$	0.49		34.69	%
EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED	$	0.64		$	0.49		30.61	%
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING - BASIC		7,058,397			7,072,575		(0.20	)%
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING - DILUTED		7,334,197			7,072,575		3.70	%

PENNS WOODS BANCORP, INC. AVERAGE BALANCES AND INTEREST RATES (UNAUDITED)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31, 2023						March 31, 2022
(Dollars in Thousands)	Average Balance (1)		Interest		Average Rate		Average Balance (1)		Interest		Average Rate
ASSETS:
Tax-exempt loans (3)	$	64,703	$	448	2.81	%	$	47,974	$	308	2.60	%
All other loans		1,601,105		17,651	4.47	%		1,351,414		12,795	3.84	%
Total loans (2)		1,665,808		18,099	4.41	%		1,399,388		13,103	3.80	%

Federal funds sold		—		—	n/a			50,000		93	0.75	%

Taxable securities		181,421		1,579	3.53	%		144,438		920	2.58	%
Tax-exempt securities (3)		33,565		225	2.72	%		40,981		208	2.06	%
Total securities		214,986		1,804	3.40	%		185,419		1,128	2.47	%

Interest-bearing deposits		7,031		102	5.88	%		157,541		60	0.15	%

Total interest-earning assets		1,887,825		20,005	4.30	%		1,792,348		14,384	3.25	%

Other assets		135,276						127,421

TOTAL ASSETS	$	2,023,101					$	1,919,769

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Savings	$	243,302		120	0.20	%	$	240,953		22	0.04	%
Super Now deposits		366,424		939	1.04	%		370,895		195	0.21	%
Money market deposits		289,734		1,280	1.79	%		298,820		186	0.25	%
Time deposits		188,476		1,033	2.22	%		190,819		385	0.82	%
Total interest-bearing deposits		1,087,936		3,372	1.26	%		1,101,487		788	0.29	%

Short-term borrowings		121,754		1,440	4.80	%		5,194		1	0.08	%
Long-term borrowings		119,267		754	2.56	%		115,267		633	2.23	%
Total borrowings		241,021		2,194	3.69	%		120,461		634	2.13	%

Total interest-bearing liabilities		1,328,957		5,566	1.70	%		1,221,948		1,422	0.47	%

Demand deposits		498,180						506,348
Other liabilities		28,367						23,357
Shareholders' equity		167,597						168,116

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	2,023,101					$	1,919,769
Interest rate spread (3)					2.60	%					2.78	%
Net interest income/margin (3)			$	14,439	3.10	%			$	12,962	2.93	%
^{1. Information on this table has been calculated using average daily balance sheets to obtain average balances.} ^{2. Non-accrual loans have been included with loans for the purpose of analyzing net interest earnings.} ^{3. Income and rates on fully taxable equivalent basis include an adjustment for the difference between annual income from tax-exempt obligations and the taxable equivalent of such income at the standard tax rate of 21%.}

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023		2022
Total interest income	$	19,864	$	14,275
Total interest expense		5,566		1,422
Net interest income		14,298		12,853
Tax equivalent adjustment		141		109
Net interest income (fully taxable equivalent) (non-GAAP)	$	14,439	$	12,962

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data, Unaudited)	Quarter Ended
	3/31/2023			12/31/2022			9/30/2022			6/30/2022			3/31/2022
Operating Data
Net income	$	4,658		$	4,509		$	5,250		$	4,231		$	3,432
Net interest income		14,298			15,548			15,532			13,847			12,853
Provision for credit losses		71			575			855			330			150
Net security losses		(40	)		(39	)		(211	)		(54	)		(61	)
Non-interest income, excluding net security losses		2,297			2,120			2,294			2,191			2,473
Non-interest expense		10,898			11,251			10,320			10,420			11,007

Performance Statistics
Net interest margin		3.10	%		3.42	%		3.47	%		3.12	%		2.93	%
Annualized return on average assets		0.92	%		0.92	%		1.09	%		0.88	%		0.72	%
Annualized return on average equity		11.12	%		10.92	%		12.61	%		10.15	%		8.17	%
Annualized net loan charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans		0.03	%		0.04	%		0.01	%		(0.01	)%		0.09	%
Net charge-offs (recoveries)		123			149			37			(40	)		303
Efficiency ratio		65.46	%		59.79	%		57.70	%		64.72	%		71.53	%

Per Share Data
Basic earnings per share	$	0.66		$	0.64		$	0.74		$	0.60		$	0.49
Diluted earnings per share		0.64			0.64			0.74			0.60			0.49
Dividend declared per share		0.32			0.32			0.32			0.32			0.32
Book value		24.64			23.76			23.32			23.56			23.81
Common stock price:
High		27.77			26.89			24.29			24.35			24.67
Low		21.90			23.15			22.02			22.34			23.64
Close		23.10			26.62			22.91			23.09			24.43
Weighted average common shares:
Basic		7,058			7,055			7,051			7,059			7,073
Fully Diluted		7,334			7,055			7,051			7,059			7,073
End-of-period common shares:
Issued		7,570			7,567			7,563			7,559			7,555
Treasury		(510	)		(510	)		(510	)		(510	)		(480	)

(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data, Unaudited)	Quarter Ended
	3/31/2023			12/31/2022			9/30/2022			6/30/2022			3/31/2022
Financial Condition Data:
General
Total assets	$	2,065,143		$	2,000,080		$	1,905,116		$	1,891,806		$	1,916,809
Loans, net		1,688,289			1,624,094			1,545,489			1,474,739			1,391,943
Goodwill		16,450			16,450			17,104			17,104			17,104
Intangibles		292			327			361			396			437
Total deposits		1,638,835			1,556,460			1,590,415			1,589,579			1,612,395
Noninterest-bearing		502,352			519,063			537,403			524,288			514,130
Savings		239,526			247,952			249,532			249,057			245,661
NOW		363,548			372,574			392,140			353,102			379,838
Money Market		300,273			270,589			268,532			309,453			299,166
Time Deposits		191,203			137,949			137,348			145,714			160,592
Brokered Deposits		41,933			8,333			5,460			7,965			13,008
Total interest-bearing deposits		1,136,483			1,037,397			1,053,012			1,065,291			1,098,265

Core deposits*		1,405,699			1,410,178			1,447,607			1,435,900			1,438,795
Shareholders' equity		173,970			167,665			164,489			166,054			168,427

Asset Quality
Non-performing loans	$	4,766		$	4,890		$	5,743		$	5,100		$	5,281
Non-performing loans to total assets		0.23	%		0.24	%		0.30	%		0.27	%		0.28	%
Allowance for loan losses		11,734			15,637			15,211			14,393			14,023
Allowance for loan losses to total loans		0.69	%		0.95	%		0.97	%		0.97	%		1.00	%
Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans		246.20	%		319.78	%		264.86	%		282.22	%		265.54	%
Non-performing loans to total loans		0.28	%		0.30	%		0.37	%		0.34	%		0.38	%

Capitalization
Shareholders' equity to total assets		8.42	%		8.40	%		8.63	%		8.78	%		8.79	%
^{* Core deposits are defined as total deposits less time deposits.}

Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures (UNAUDITED)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)		2023			2022
GAAP net income	$	4,658		$	3,432
Net securities losses, net of tax		32			48
Non-GAAP core earnings	$	4,690		$	3,480

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023			2022
Return on average assets (ROA)		0.92	%		0.72	%
Net securities losses, net of tax		0.01	%		0.01	%
Non-GAAP core ROA		0.93	%		0.73	%

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023			2022
Return on average equity (ROE)		11.12	%		8.17	%
Net securities losses, net of tax		0.07	%		0.11	%
Non-GAAP core ROE		11.19	%		8.28	%

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023			2022
Basic earnings per share (EPS)	$	0.66		$	0.49
Net securities losses, net of tax		—			0.01
Non-GAAP basic core EPS	$	0.66		$	0.50

	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2023			2022
Diluted EPS	$	0.64		$	0.49
Net securities losses, net of tax		—			0.01
Non-GAAP diluted core EPS	$	0.64		$	0.50

Penns Woods Bancorp, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2023 Earnings