WESTBURY, N.Y., July 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

New York Community Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: NYCB) (the "Company") today reported net income for the three months ended June 30, 2020 of $105.3 million, up 5% compared to the $100.3 million reported for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and up 8% compared to the $97.2 million reported for the three months ended June 30, 2019. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, net income increased 6% to $205.7 million compared to the $194.8 million reported for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Net income available to common shareholders for the three months ended June 30, 2020, totaled $97.1 million, up 5% compared to the $92.1 million reported for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and up 9% compared to the $89.0 million reported for the three months ended June 30, 2019. On a year-to-date basis, net income available to common shareholders was $189.3 million, up 6% compared to the $178.4 million reported in the first six months of 2019.

On a per share basis, the Company reported diluted earnings per share of $0.21 for the second quarter of 2020, up 5% compared to the previous quarter's diluted earnings per share of $0.20 and up 11% compared to the $0.19 reported in the second quarter of 2019. For the first six months of 2020, the Company reported diluted earnings per share of $0.40, up 5% compared to the $0.38 reported in the first six months of 2019.

Commenting on the Company's performance this quarter, President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph R. Ficalora stated: "Despite the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the national and local economies, our performance during the current quarter was impressive. Our positive momentum continued and resulted in strong EPS and net income growth. This growth was in large part, the result of significant expansion in our net interest margin, which led to solid top-line revenue growth. At the same time, our provision for credit losses declined compared to the previous quarter, as our asset quality metrics remained strong and operating expenses declined, while multi-family loan growth continued.

"The net interest margin expanded 17 basis points to 2.18% during the second quarter. Excluding the impact of prepayment income, the net interest margin was 2.09%, also up 17 basis points. This was driven mostly by a sharp decline in our funding costs as approximately $6 billion in certificates of deposits with rates over 2.00% reached their contractual maturity during the quarter. As a result, our net interest income rose $21.4 million or 9% on a sequential basis, while the cost of deposits dropped 46 basis points compared to the prior quarter.

"While overall loan growth on a sequential basis was relatively unchanged, our core multi-family portfolio grew 4% annualized compared to the previous quarter, which was offset by declines in our other portfolios. Some of the decline was in the specialty finance portfolio, as some larger borrowers used the favorable interest rate environment to access the capital markets and used the proceeds to pay down debt, while some others reduced their inventory levels. That notwithstanding, we ended the quarter with a robust pipeline and expect stronger loan growth in the second half of the year.

"Our asset quality metrics continue to be very strong and continue to rank among the best in the industry. Non-performing assets remained low and net charge-offs declined compared to both the previous quarter and the year earlier quarter, to one basis point of average loans. The amount of loans in payment deferral increased in-line with expectations and remain at a manageable level. We look forward to these loans returning to their normal payment schedules which we expect will occur beginning in October. We continue to closely monitor our entire loan portfolio for any signs of stress.

"Lastly, reflecting our strong capital position, solid asset quality metrics, and earnings growth, yesterday the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per common share."

DIVIDEND DECLARATION

The Board of Directors yesterday declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.17 per share on the Company's common stock. Based on a closing price of $10.24 as of July 28, 2020, this represents an annualized dividend yield of 6.6%. The dividend is payable on August 18, 2020 to common shareholders of record as of August 8, 2020.

BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY

As of June 30, 2020, total assets were $54.2 billion, up $570 million or 2% annualized compared to total assets at December 31, 2019. The year-to-date increase was driven by loan growth, primarily in the specialty finance portfolio and in the multi-family portfolio, offset by a decline in the commercial real estate ("CRE") loan portfolio, while the securities portfolio declined and cash balances rose. On the liability side, total deposits rose $72 million or 0.5% annualized to $31.7 billion, while borrowings rose $450 million or 6% annualized, to $15.0 billion.

Loans

Total loans and leases held for investment were $42.3 billion at June 30, 2020, up $412.0 million or 2% annualized compared to December 31, 2019. On a sequential basis, total loans and leases held for investment were unchanged as good growth in the multi-family portfolio was offset by declines in other categories.

Total multi-family loans increased $438 million or 3% on an annualized basis to $31.6 billion compared to the balance at December 31, 2019. On a sequential basis, total multi-family loans rose $325 million or 4% annualized.

Total CRE loans declined to $6.9 billion, down $152 million or 4% annualized compared to the level at December 31, 2019, but down $105 million or 6% annualized compared to the level at March 31, 2020.

The specialty finance portfolio increased $301 million or 23% annualized during the first six months of the year, but declined $114 million compared to the previous quarter or 15% annualized. The linked-quarter decrease was primarily due to commercial borrowers reducing inventory and some larger borrowers taking advantage of the low interest rate environment to access the capital markets, using the proceeds to pay down debt.

In addition, the Company had $103.4 million of loans held for sale at June 30, 2020. All of these loans were part of the Paycheck Protection Program (the "PPP") originated during the current second quarter. At both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any loans held for sale.

The average loan size for multi-family loans during the second quarter of 2020 was $6.5 million and for CRE loans it was $6.7 million, relatively unchanged compared to the average loan size during the prior quarter.

The weighted average life of the multi-family portfolio remained under two years, at 1.9 years and for the CRE portfolio, it was 2.3 years, unchanged compared to the previous quarter.

Originations

For the three months ended June 30, 2020, total loan originations, excluding PPP loan originations, increased 21% on a linked-quarter basis and 10% on a year-over-year basis to $3.3 billion and exceeded the previous quarter's loan pipeline by $1.2 billion. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, loan originations totaled $6.0 billion compared to $5.0 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2019, up 20%.

Pipeline

The current loan pipeline stands at $2.2 billion, of which approximately 60% is new money. The pipeline includes $1.5 billion in multi-family loans, $447 million in specialty finance loans and leases, and $189 million in CRE loans.

Funding

Deposits

Total deposits for the six months ended June 30, 2020 increased $72 million to $31.7 billion compared to December 31, 2019, up 0.5% annualized. On a linked-quarter basis, total deposits declined $243 million or 3% annualized. Continuing the trend from the previous quarter, certificates of deposits ("CDs") declined $2.1 billion to $12.0 billion, primarily due to the drop in market interest rates and the Company's strategy to significantly reduce the rates it pays on CDs.

Much of this decline was offset by growth in other, lower-cost deposit categories. Savings accounts increased $669 million or 14% to $5.6 billion; interest-bearing checking and money market accounts rose $960 million to $11.1 billion, while non-interest bearing accounts grew $228 million to $2.9 billion.

During the current quarter, our deposit costs declined 74 basis points to 1.16% compared to the year-ago quarter and 46 basis points compared to the previous quarter. For the six months ended June 30, 2020, deposit costs declined 46 basis points to 1.39% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2019. We expect to see similar trends throughout the rest of the year. Over the next two quarters, the Company has $10.7 billion of CDs at a weighted average interest rate of 1.73% which are scheduled to mature.

Borrowed Funds

As of June 30, 2020, total borrowed funds increased $450 million or 6% annualized compared to the balance at December 31, 2019 and $75.2 million or 2% annualized compared to March 31, 2020. This was entirely due to an increase in wholesale borrowings, consisting of Federal Home Loan Bank of New York ("FHLB-NY") advances, as the Company took advantage of the low interest rate environment to lock in long-term funding at attractive rates.

The FHLB-NY advances that we added during the current quarter had a blended cost of 55 basis points and a term of 1.8 years. This compares to an overall average cost of borrowings of 2.06% during the current quarter. During the second half of 2020, the Company has $975.0 million of wholesale borrowings set to contractually mature with an average cost of 1.78%.

Liquidity

The Company's liquidity position remained strong during the second quarter of 2020. In addition to the liquidity provided from our deposits, other sources of liquidity available to us stems from our balance of cash and cash equivalents and the unencumbered portion of our securities portfolio. Additional significant sources of liquidity available to the Company include approved lines of credit with various counterparties, including borrowing facilities with the FHLB-NY and with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the "FRB-NY").

At June 30, 2020, our available funding with the FHLB-NY was $7.7 billion and with the FRB-NY, it was $1.1 billion. Additionally, the unencumbered portion of the securities portfolio totaled $3.9 billion.

Asset Quality

Non-Performing Assets

The Company's asset quality metrics were relatively stable compared to the previous quarter and remained strong overall. Non-performing assets ("NPAs") at June 30, 2020 were $63.2 million, up $4 million or 7% compared to the level at March 31, 2020. This translates into 12 basis points of total assets versus 11 basis points compared to first-quarter 2020. Total non-accrual mortgage loans were $24.2 million, up $2 million or 10% compared to March 31, 2020. Other non-accrual loans rose $2 million or 8% compared to first-quarter 2020.

Excluding the impact from non-performing and repossessed taxi medallion-related assets, second quarter 2020 NPAs would have been $29.6 million or 0.05% of total assets compared to $28.3 million or 0.05% of total assets for the first-quarter 2020.

Total repossessed assets, which consist primarily of repossessed taxi medallions remained unchanged during the current second quarter. Repossessed assets were $9.5 million and were largely taxi medallion-related.

Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses

At June 30, 2020, the allowance for loan and lease losses ("ALLL") totaled $174.3 million, up $27 million from December 31, 2019 and up $12 million from March 31, 2020. Both the year-to-date and quarter-to-date increases reflect the adoption of the Current Expected Credit Losses ("CECL") methodology on January 1, 2020 and the deteriorating forecasted economic conditions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The ALLL represented 324.73% of non-performing loans and 0.41% of total loans at June 30, 2020 compared to 329.22% and 0.38%, respectively, at March 31, 2020, and compared to 241.07% and 0.35%, respectively, at year-end 2019.

The table below summarizes the changes in the ALLL and in the allowance for unfunded commitments from March 31, 2020 to June 30, 2020.

At June 30, 2020, the portion of our multi-family loan portfolio subject to New York State rent-regulations totaled $19.0 billion or 60% of the overall multi-family portfolio. The weighted average loan-to-value ratio ("LTV") for this portion of the portfolio was 53.51% compared to 57.01% for the entire multi-family portfolio. Both LTVs were relatively unchanged compared to the previous quarter and compared to year-end 2019.

CAPITAL POSITION

The Company's capital position was strong during the current second quarter at both the Bank level and at the holding company level. They also compare positively to our peers and the industry as a whole, especially in light of the relatively low loss content in our loan portfolio. Additionally, all of the Company's regulatory capital ratios continue to exceed the minimum regulatory requirements to be classified as "Well Capitalized".

At the holding company level, our common equity tier 1 capital ratio at June 30, 2020 was 9.77%; our tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 11.06%; our total risk-based capital ratio was 13.13%; and our leverage capital ratio was 8.42%.

EARNINGS SUMMARY FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2020

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2020 totaled $265.9 million, up 9% or $21.4 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 and up 12% or $28 million compared to the three months ended June 30, 2019. Both the quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year improvements in net interest income were driven by lower interest expense, resulting from lower funding costs. Excluding the impact from prepayment income, net interest income on a non-GAAP basis, would have been $254.5 million, up 9% and 13%, on a linked-quarter and year-over-year basis.

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, net interest income totaled $510.3 million, up $31 million or 7% compared to net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2019. As with the three month improvement, the six month improvement was due to lower interest expense from a lower cost of funds. Excluding the impact from prepayment income, net interest income on a non-GAAP basis, would have been $488.4 million, up 7% compared to the first half of 2019.

Net Interest Margin

The Company's net interest margin ("NIM") for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was 2.18%, up 17 basis points compared to the previous quarter and up 18 basis points compared to the year-ago second quarter. These double-digit increases were the result of significantly lower funding costs. Our cost of funds declined to 1.46% during the current second quarter, down 36 basis points on a linked-quarter basis and down 60 basis points on a year-over-year basis. The improvement in our cost of funds was led by a decline in our average cost of deposits, which dropped 46 basis points and 74 basis points, respectively, to 1.16% and by a decrease in our borrowing costs to 2.06% compared to 2.21% in the prior quarter and 2.41% in the year-earlier quarter.

Prepayment income contributed nine basis points to the NIM during the current second quarter, unchanged compared to the contribution in the previous quarter and down two basis points compared to the year-ago quarter.

Excluding the impact from prepayment income, the second quarter 2020 NIM, on a non-GAAP basis would have been 2.09%, up 17 basis points sequentially and up 20 basis points on a year-over-year basis.

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, our NIM was 2.10%, up eight basis points compared to the six months ended June 30, 2019. Prepayment income contributed 10 basis points during both six-month periods to the NIM. Excluding the impact from prepayment income, the six month NIM on a non-GAAP basis would have been 2.00% compared to 1.92%, up eight basis points.

Provision for Credit Losses

During the second quarter of 2020, the provision for credit losses was $17.6 million compared to $20.6 million during the previous quarter and compared to $1.8 million during the year-ago quarter. The June 30, 2020 provision for credit losses exceeded net charge-offs by $13.8 million.

Net charge-offs during the second quarter of 2020 were $3.8 million or 0.01% of average loans compared to $10.2 million during the first quarter of 2020 or 0.02% of average loans and $7.4 million, also 0.02% of average loans compared to the second quarter of 2019.

On a year-to-date basis, the provision for credit losses totaled $38.2 million compared to a provision for credit losses of $622,000 for the first half of 2019.

The provision for credit losses exceeded net charge-offs by $24.2 million during the first six months of 2020.

Net charge-offs for the six months ended June 30, 2020 totaled $14.0 million or 0.03% of average loans compared to $9.3 million or 0.02% of average loans for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Pre-Provision Net Revenue ("PPNR")⁽¹⁾

The tables below detail the Company's PPNR for the periods noted.

For the three months ended June 30, 2020, PPNR totaled $157.7 million, up $21.8 million or 16% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 and up $25.4 million or 19% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2019.

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, PPNR totaled $293.5 million, up $33.9 million or 13% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Non-Interest Income

For the three months ended June 30, 2020, total non-interest income was $15.4 million, down 9% and 13%, respectively, from the prior quarter and year-ago results of $16.9 million and $17.6 million, respectively. Results during the current second quarter were negatively impacted by lower fee income due to the waiver of certain retail banking fees in order to support our depositors during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was partially offset by higher BOLI income.

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, total non-interest income declined 24% to $32.3 million compared to $42.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019. As previously mentioned, results were impacted by the waiver of certain retail banking fees. Additionally, the first-half 2019 results included $7.5 million of net gains on securities compared to $1.4 million for the first-half of 2020.

Non-Interest Expense

The Company's non-interest expenses continued to trend lower. Total non-interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was $123.6 million, down 2% compared to $125.5 million in the previous quarter, and relatively unchanged compared to the $123.1 million reported in the year-ago quarter. Non-interest expense during the first quarter of 2020 included a $4.4 million benefit related to a lease termination.

The efficiency ratio during the second quarter of 2020 improved to 43.94% compared to 49.70% during the first quarter of 2020 (which excludes the lease termination benefit) and compared to 48.20% for the second quarter of 2019.

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, total non-interest expenses were $249.1 million, down $12.7 million or 5% compared to the first six months of 2019. Included in the results for the first six months of 2020 was a $4.4 million lease termination benefit. Included in the results for the first six months of 2019 was certain items related to severance costs and branch rationalization totaling $9.0 million.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2020 totaled $34.7 million, up $19.8 million or 133% compared to the three months ended March 31, 2020 and up $1.6 million or 5% compared to the three months ended June 30, 2019. The first quarter 2020 income tax expense included a $13.1 million tax benefit related to the Company's tax loss carryback as provided by certain tax provisions for corporations included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"), as enacted on March 27, 2020. The effective tax rate for the current second quarter was 24.80% compared to an effective tax rate of 12.94% for the previous quarter and an effective tax rate of 25.42% in the year-ago second quarter.

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, income tax expense totaled $49.7 million, down $14.5 million or 23% compared to income tax expense recorded during the first six months of 2019. The year-to-date 2020 income tax expense includes the previously mentioned tax loss carryback-related tax benefit as provided under the CARES Act. The effective tax rate for the first half of 2020 was 19.45% compared to an effective tax rate of 24.77% for the first half of 2019.

About New York Community Bancorp, Inc.

Based in Westbury, NY, New York Community Bancorp, Inc. is a leading producer of multi-family loans on non-luxury, rent-regulated apartment buildings in New York City, and the parent of New York Community Bank. At June 30, 2020, the Company reported assets of $54.2 billion, loans of $42.4 billion, deposits of $31.7 billion, and stockholders' equity of $6.7 billion.

Reflecting our growth through a series of acquisitions, the Company operates 237 branches through eight local divisions, each with a history of service and strength: Queens County Savings Bank, Roslyn Savings Bank, Richmond County Savings Bank, Roosevelt Savings Bank, and Atlantic Bank in New York; Garden State Community Bank in New Jersey; Ohio Savings Bank in Ohio; and AmTrust Bank in Florida and Arizona.

Post-Earnings Release Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss its second quarter 2020 performance. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (877) 407-8293 (for domestic calls) or (201) 689-8349 (for international calls) and asking for "New York Community Bancorp" or "NYCB." A replay will be available approximately three hours following completion of the call through 11:59 p.m. on August 2, 2020 and may be accessed by calling (877) 660-6853 (domestic) or (201) 612-7415 (international) and providing the following conference ID: 13705600. In addition, the conference call will be webcast at ir.myNYCB.com, and archived through 5:00 p.m. on August 26, 2020.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This earnings release and the associated conference call may include forward–looking statements by the Company and our authorized officers pertaining to such matters as our goals, intentions, and expectations regarding revenues, earnings, loan production, asset quality, capital levels, and acquisitions, among other matters; our estimates of future costs and benefits of the actions we may take; our assessments of probable losses on loans; our assessments of interest rate and other market risks; and our ability to achieve our financial and other strategic goals.

Forward–looking statements are typically identified by such words as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "should," and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, which change over time. Additionally, forward–looking statements speak only as of the date they are made; the Company does not assume any duty, and does not undertake, to update our forward–looking statements. Furthermore, because forward–looking statements are subject to assumptions and uncertainties, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those anticipated in our statements, and our future performance could differ materially from our historical results.

Our forward–looking statements are subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties: the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the length of time that the pandemic continues, the ability of state and local governments to successfully implement the lifting of restrictions on movement and the potential imposition of further restrictions on movement and travel in the future, the effect of the pandemic on the general economy and on the businesses of our borrowers and their ability to make payments on their obligations, the remedial actions and stimulus measures adopted by federal, state, and local governments, and the inability of employees to work due to illness, quarantine, or government mandates; general economic conditions and trends, either nationally or locally; conditions in the securities markets; changes in interest rates; changes in deposit flows, and in the demand for deposit, loan, and investment products and other financial services; changes in real estate values; changes in the quality or composition of our loan or investment portfolios; changes in competitive pressures among financial institutions or from non–financial institutions; our ability to obtain the necessary shareholder and regulatory approvals of any acquisitions we may propose; our ability to successfully integrate any assets, liabilities, customers, systems, and management personnel we may acquire into our operations, and our ability to realize related revenue synergies and cost savings within expected time frames; changes in legislation, regulations, and policies; the impact of recently adopted accounting pronouncements; and a variety of other matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant uncertainties and/or are beyond our control.

More information regarding some of these factors is provided in the Risk Factors section of our Form 10–K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and in other SEC reports we file. Our forward–looking statements may also be subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those we may discuss in this news release, on our conference call, during investor presentations, or in our SEC filings, which are accessible on our website and at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov.

- Financial Statements and Highlights Follow

NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP, INC.
RECONCILIATIONS OF CERTAIN GAAP AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(unaudited)

While stockholders' equity, total assets, and book value per share are financial measures that are recorded in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), tangible stockholders' equity, tangible assets, and tangible book value per share are not. Nevertheless, it is management's belief that these non-GAAP measures should be disclosed in our earnings releases and other investor communications for the following reasons:

Tangible stockholders' equity, tangible assets, and the related non-GAAP profitability and capital measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for stockholders' equity, total assets, or any other profitability or capital measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, the manner in which we calculate these non-GAAP measures may differ from that of other companies reporting non-GAAP measures with similar names.

The following table presents reconciliations of our common stockholders' equity and tangible common stockholders' equity, our total assets and tangible assets, and the related GAAP and non-GAAP profitability and capital measures at or for the periods indicated: