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8-K - 8-K - WEST BANCORPORATION INCwtba-2020123form8xk.htm


Exhibit 99.1

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Press Release
 
January 23, 2020
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact:
Doug Gulling, Executive Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (515) 222-2309
 
WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. ANNOUNCES RECORD NET INCOME, DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND
 
West Des Moines, IA - West Bancorporation, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTBA; the “Company”), parent company of West Bank, today reported 2019 net income of $28.7 million, or $1.74 per diluted common share, compared to 2018 net income of $28.5 million, or $1.74 per diluted common share. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $7.6 million, or $0.46 per diluted common share. This compares to fourth quarter 2018 net income of $7.2 million, or $0.44 per diluted common share. On January 22, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.21 per common share. The dividend is payable on February 19, 2020, to stockholders of record on February 5, 2020.

In March 2019, the Company announced that, through its subsidiary, West Bank, it was initiating a growth strategy in three new Minnesota markets and has since opened full service branch offices in Owatonna, Mankato and St. Cloud, Minnesota. The financial results of 2019 have been impacted by compensation, occupancy and equipment costs, professional fees and business development costs related to this growth strategy, which totaled approximately $2.8 million on a pretax basis in 2019. The estimated pretax net interest income from loans and deposits and related fee income in these markets was approximately $1.1 million in 2019.

“We continue to successfully execute on our strategic priorities and at the same time deliver consistently strong financial results,” commented Dave Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “Despite the additional expenses in 2019 from our investment in opening branches in three new markets, the Company still achieved an all-time record for annual earnings. While continued net interest margin compression along with the cost of our expansion have presented financial challenges, we continue to benefit from our ability to manage credit quality and our disciplined approach to expense management.”
Dave Nelson also commented, “Our highly talented bankers in our new Minnesota communities generated over $119 million in loan originations in those markets in 2019. We are starting to see positive financial results from this expansion, and the results confirm our commitment to building shareholder value. We are beginning the new year with a positive return on our investment in our expanded markets which we believe will contribute to increased earnings in 2020.”
The Company will file its report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before February 27, 2020. Please refer to that document for a more in-depth discussion of our financial results. The Form 10-K will be available on the Investor Relations section of West Bank’s website at www.westbankstrong.com.

The Company will discuss its financial results on a conference call scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Central Time tomorrow, Friday, January 24, 2020. The telephone number for the conference call is 888-339-0814. A recording of the call will be available until February 7, 2020, by dialing 877-344-7529. The replay passcode is 10137421.





About West Bancorporation, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTBA)
West Bancorporation, Inc. is headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. Serving customers since 1893, West Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of West Bancorporation, Inc., is a community bank that focuses on lending, deposit services, and trust services for consumers and small- to medium-sized businesses. West Bank has eight offices in the Des Moines, Iowa metropolitan area, one office in Coralville, Iowa, and four offices in Minnesota, in the cities of Rochester, Owatonna, Mankato and St. Cloud.

Certain statements in this report, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to the Company’s business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward-looking statements” within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may appear throughout this report. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “future,” “confident,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “strategy,” “plan,” “opportunity,” “will be,” “will likely result,” “will continue” or similar references, or references to estimates, predictions or future events.  Such forward-looking statements are based upon certain underlying assumptions, risks and uncertainties.  Because of the possibility that the underlying assumptions are incorrect or do not materialize as expected in the future, actual results could differ materially from these forward-looking statements.  Risks and uncertainties that may affect future results include: interest rate risk; competitive pressures; pricing pressures on loans and deposits; changes in credit and other risks posed by the Company’s loan and investment portfolios, including declines in commercial or residential real estate values or changes in the allowance for loan losses dictated by new market conditions or regulatory requirements; actions of bank and nonbank competitors; changes in local, national and international economic conditions; changes in legal and regulatory requirements, limitations and costs; changes in customers’ acceptance of the Company’s products and services; cyber-attacks; unexpected outcomes of existing or new litigation involving the Company; the monetary, trade and other regulatory policies of the U.S. government; acts of war or terrorism or other adverse external events; and any other risks described in the “Risk Factors” sections of other reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update such forward-looking statements to reflect current or future events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.







WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
 
 
 
Financial Information (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
 
$
37,808

 
$
46,369

Federal funds sold
 
15,482

 
1,105

Investment securities available for sale, at fair value
 
398,578

 
453,758

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost
 
12,491

 
12,037

Loans
 
1,941,663

 
1,721,830

Allowance for loan losses
 
(17,235
)
 
(16,689
)
Loans, net
 
1,924,428

 
1,705,141

Premises and equipment, net
 
29,680

 
21,491

Bank-owned life insurance
 
34,893

 
34,249

Other assets
 
20,331

 
22,418

Total assets
 
$
2,473,691

 
$
2,296,568

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
Deposits:
 
 
 
 
Noninterest-bearing demand
 
$
380,079

 
$
400,530

Interest-bearing:
 
 
 
 
Demand
 
346,307

 
336,089

Savings
 
996,836

 
950,501

Time of $250 or more
 
81,871

 
55,745

Other time
 
209,663

 
151,664

Total deposits
 
2,014,756

 
1,894,529

Federal funds purchased
 
2,660

 
19,985

Other borrowings
 
222,728

 
185,343

Other liabilities
 
21,727

 
5,688

Stockholders’ equity
 
211,820

 
191,023

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
2,473,691

 
$
2,296,568








WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Information (continued) (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Interest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans, including fees
 
$
21,813

 
$
19,200

 
$
85,512

 
$
71,189

Investment securities
 
2,973

 
3,255

 
12,053

 
13,117

Other
 
291

 
151

 
1,110

 
487

Total interest income
 
25,077

 
22,606

 
98,675

 
84,793

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
5,809

 
5,486

 
25,214

 
17,064

Federal funds purchased
 
22

 
48

 
241

 
188

Other borrowings
 
1,859

 
1,416

 
6,790

 
5,483

Total interest expense
 
7,690

 
6,950

 
32,245

 
22,735

Net interest income
 
17,387

 
15,656

 
66,430

 
62,058

Provision for loan losses
 
300

 

 
600

 
(250
)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
 
17,087

 
15,656

 
65,830

 
62,308

Noninterest income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service charges on deposit accounts
 
651

 
616

 
2,492

 
2,541

Debit card usage fees
 
409

 
427

 
1,644

 
1,681

Trust services
 
490

 
456

 
2,026

 
1,921

Increase in cash value of bank-owned life insurance
 
162

 
163

 
644

 
631

Realized investment securities losses, net
 
(23
)
 
(160
)
 
(87
)
 
(263
)
Other income
 
353

 
200

 
1,599

 
1,241

Total noninterest income
 
2,042

 
1,702

 
8,318

 
7,752

Noninterest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
 
5,466

 
4,729

 
21,790

 
18,791

Occupancy
 
1,399

 
1,265

 
5,355

 
4,996

Data processing
 
644

 
662

 
2,735

 
2,682

FDIC insurance
 

 
186

 
404

 
685

Write-down of premises
 

 

 

 
333

Other expenses
 
2,067

 
2,344

 
8,122

 
7,505

Total noninterest expense
 
9,576

 
9,186

 
38,406

 
34,992

Income before income taxes
 
9,553

 
8,172

 
35,742

 
35,068

Income taxes
 
1,946

 
945

 
7,052

 
6,560

Net income
 
$
7,607

 
$
7,227

 
$
28,690

 
$
28,508







WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
 
Financial Information (continued) (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PER COMMON SHARE
 
MARKET INFORMATION (1)
 
 
Net Income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
Diluted
 
Dividends
 
High
 
Low
2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4th Quarter
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.46

 
$
0.21

 
$
25.93

 
$
21.01

3rd Quarter
 
0.46

 
0.46

 
0.21

 
22.47

 
19.63

2nd Quarter
 
0.41

 
0.41

 
0.21

 
22.32

 
20.14

1st Quarter
 
0.42

 
0.42

 
0.20

 
23.74

 
19.02

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4th Quarter
 
$
0.44

 
$
0.44

 
$
0.20

 
$
23.88

 
$
18.06

3rd Quarter
 
0.44

 
0.43

 
0.20

 
26.51

 
23.10

2nd Quarter
 
0.42

 
0.41

 
0.20

 
26.95

 
22.65

1st Quarter
 
0.46

 
0.45

 
0.18

 
26.85

 
23.65

(1) The prices shown are the high and low sale prices for the Company’s common stock, which trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol WTBA. The market quotations, reported by Nasdaq, do not include retail markup, markdown or commissions.


 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
SELECTED FINANCIAL MEASURES
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Return on average assets
 
1.22
%
 
1.29
%
 
1.20
%
 
1.31
%
Return on average equity
 
14.61
%
 
15.45
%
 
14.34
%
 
15.68
%
Net interest margin
 
2.95
%
 
2.99
%
 
2.95
%
 
3.06
%
Efficiency ratio*
 
48.76
%
 
51.16
%
 
50.96
%
 
48.33
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
Texas ratio*
 
 
 
 
 
0.23
%
 
0.93
%
Allowance for loan losses ratio
 
 
 
 
 
0.89
%
 
0.97
%
Tangible common equity ratio
 
 
 
 
 
8.56
%
 
8.32
%
* A lower ratio is more desirable.

Definitions of ratios:
Return on average assets - annualized net income divided by average assets.
Return on average equity - annualized net income divided by average stockholders’ equity.
Net interest margin(1) - annualized tax-equivalent net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
Efficiency ratio(1) - noninterest expense (excluding other real estate owned expense) divided by noninterest income (excluding net securities gains/losses and gains/losses on disposition of premises and equipment) plus tax-equivalent net interest income.
Texas ratio - total nonperforming assets divided by tangible common equity plus the allowance for loan losses.
Allowance for loan losses ratio - allowance for loan losses divided by total loans.
Tangible common equity ratio - common equity less intangible assets (none held) divided by tangible assets.

(1) Non-GAAP financial measures - see reconciliation below.






WEST BANCORPORATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Financial Information (continued) (unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The following table reconciles the non-GAAP financial measures of net interest income, net interest margin and efficiency ratio on a fully taxable equivalent (FTE) basis to GAAP.
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Reconciliation of net interest income and net interest margin on an FTE basis to GAAP:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income (GAAP)
 
$
17,387

 
$
15,656

 
$
66,430

 
$
62,058

Tax-equivalent adjustment (1)
 
184

 
341

 
834

 
1,529

Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)
 
17,571

 
15,997

 
67,264

 
63,587

Average interest-earning assets
 
2,360,375

 
2,124,148

 
2,277,461

 
2,075,372

Net interest margin on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)
 
2.95
%
 
2.99
%
 
2.95
%
 
3.06
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of efficiency ratio on an FTE basis to GAAP:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest income on an FTE basis (non-GAAP)
 
$
17,571

 
$
15,997

 
$
67,264

 
$
63,587

Noninterest income
 
2,042

 
1,702

 
8,318

 
7,752

Adjustment for realized investment securities losses, net
 
23

 
160

 
87

 
263

Adjustment for losses on disposal of premises and equipment, net
 

 
95

 

 
109

Adjustment for gain on sale of premises
 

 

 
(307
)
 

Adjusted income
 
19,636

 
17,954

 
75,362

 
71,711

Noninterest expense
 
9,576

 
9,186

 
38,406

 
34,992

Adjustment for write-down of premises
 

 

 

 
(333
)
   Adjusted expense
 
9,576

 
9,186

 
38,406

 
34,659

Efficiency ratio on an adjusted and FTE basis (non-GAAP) (2)
 
48.76
%
 
51.16
%
 
50.96
%
 
48.33
%

(1) Computed on a tax-equivalent basis using a federal income tax rate of 21 percent, adjusted to reflect the effect of the nondeductible interest expense associated with owning tax-exempt securities and loans. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial results, as it enhances the comparability of income arising from taxable and nontaxable sources.
(2) The efficiency ratio expresses noninterest expense as a percent of fully taxable equivalent net interest income and noninterest income, excluding specific noninterest income and expenses. Management believes the presentation of this non-GAAP measure provides supplemental useful information for proper understanding of the financial performance. It is a standard measure of comparison within the banking industry.