PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS REPORTS

SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2021 RESULTS

The Company Reports Net Income of $1.18 Million in the December 2020 Quarter

Loans Held for Investment Decrease 5% from June 30, 2020 to $855.1 Million

Total Deposits Increase 2% from June 30, 2020 to $910.0 Million

Non-Interest Expense Declines 8% to $6.92 Million in the December 2020 Quarter in

Comparison to the December 2019 Quarter

Riverside, Calif. – January 27, 2021 – Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (“Company”), NASDAQ GS: PROV, the holding company for Provident Savings Bank, F.S.B. (“Bank”), today announced second quarter earnings results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021.

            For the quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Company reported net income of $1.18 million, or $0.16 per diluted share (on 7.49 million average diluted shares outstanding), down from net income of $2.40 million, or $0.31 per diluted share (on 7.66 million average diluted shares outstanding), in the comparable period a year ago. Compared to the same quarter last year, the decrease in earnings was primarily attributable to lower net interest income and lower non-interest income, partly offset by lower non-interest expense (mainly, lower salaries and employee benefits expenses related to fewer employees and reduced incentive compensation).

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“Unfortunately, our current operating results have been negatively impacted by the low interest rate environment stemming from the weak economic conditions.  Nonetheless, we are profitable, well-capitalized and well-positioned for the transition to an improving economic environment just as we were well-positioned for the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic before it occurred,” said Craig G. Blunden, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  “I believe we will see improving general economic conditions as we progress through 2021 and the Company will see improving operating fundamentals as well,” said Mr. Blunden.

Return on average assets for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was 0.40 percent, down from 0.87 percent for the same period of fiscal 2020; and return on average stockholders’ equity for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was 3.77 percent, down from 7.81 percent for the comparable period of fiscal 2020.

On a sequential quarter basis, the $1.18 million net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 reflects a 21 percent decrease from $1.49 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The decrease in earnings for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2021 was primarily attributable to a decrease of $528,000 in net interest income and a $185,000 decrease in non-interest income, partly offset by a decrease of $181,000 in the provision for loan losses. Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 were $0.16 per share, down 20 percent from the $0.20 per share during the first quarter of fiscal 2021. Return on average assets was 0.40 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2021, down from 0.50 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2021; and return on average stockholders’ equity for the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was 3.77 percent, down from 4.78 percent for the first quarter of fiscal 2021.

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For the six months ended December 31, 2020 net income decreased $2.30 million, or 46 percent, to $2.66 million from $4.96 million in the comparable period ended December 31, 2019; and diluted earnings per share for the six months ended December 31, 2020 decreased 45 percent to $0.36 per share (on 7.47 million average diluted shares outstanding) from $0.65 per share (on 7.65 million average diluted shares outstanding) for the comparable six-month period last year. Compared to the same period last year, the decrease in earnings was primarily attributable to a $3.42 million decrease in net-interest income; partly offset by lower non-interest expense as a result of a $1.24 million decrease in salaries and employee benefits expenses.

Net interest income decreased $2.00 million, or 21 percent, to $7.64 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from $9.64 million for the same quarter of fiscal 2020, attributable to a decrease in the net interest margin, partly offset by a higher average interest-earning assets balance. The net interest margin during the second quarter of fiscal 2021 decreased 93 basis points to 2.66 percent from 3.59 percent in the same quarter last year, primarily due to a decrease in the average yield of interest-earning assets reflecting primarily downward pressure on adjustable rate instruments as a result of decreases in market interest rates over the last year, partly offset by a much smaller decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The average yield on interest-earning assets decreased by 108 basis points to 3.10 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from 4.18 percent in the same quarter last year while the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased by 16 basis points to 0.49 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from 0.65 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of interest-earning assets increased by $75.0 million, or seven percent, to $1.15 billion in the second quarter of fiscal

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2021 from $1.07 billion in the same quarter last year due primarily to purchases of investment securities. The average balance of interest-bearing liabilities increased by $72.9 million, or eight percent, to $1.04 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from $964.6 million in the same quarter last year due primarily to increased deposits.

The average balance of loans receivable decreased by $65.6 million, or seven percent, to $868.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from $934.1 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. The average yield on loans receivable decreased by 58 basis points to 3.84 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from an average yield of 4.42 percent in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. Net deferred loan cost amortization in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 increased to $521,000 from $12,000 in the same quarter of fiscal 2020.  Deferred loan fees of $378,000 were recognized in interest income as a result of a loan payoff in the second quarter of fiscal 2020 from a previously classified non-performing loan that had been upgraded to pass, which was not replicated in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Total loans originated and purchased for investment in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 were $29.6 million, down 64 percent from $81.6 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. Loan principal payments received in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 were $59.6 million, down nine percent from $65.2 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020.

The average balance of investment securities increased by $121.4 million, or 139 percent, to $208.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from $87.1 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. The average yield on investment securities decreased 174 basis points to 0.86 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from 2.60 percent for the same quarter of fiscal 2020. The decrease in the average yield was primarily attributable to

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investment security purchases with a lower average yield than the legacy portfolio of investment securities, reflecting the currently low interest rate environment. During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Bank purchased investment securities totaling $21.0 million with an average yield of approximately 0.80%; and for the first six months of fiscal 2021, the Bank purchased investment securities totaling $103.8 million with an average yield of approximately 0.82%.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Federal Home Loan Bank – San Francisco (“FHLB”) distributed a $100,000 cash dividend to the Bank on its FHLB stock, down 31 percent from $145,000 in the same quarter last year.

The average balance of the Company’s interest-earning deposits, primarily cash with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, increased $19.4 million, or 43 percent, to $64.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from $45.5 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020 as a result of deposit growth outpacing loan originations. The average yield earned on interest-earning deposits in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was 0.10 percent, down 152 basis points from 1.62 percent in the same quarter of fiscal 2020 largely as a result of decreases in the targeted Federal Funds Rate since August 2019.

Average deposits increased $69.1 million, or eight percent, to $902.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from $833.6 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2020, primarily due to increases in transaction accounts resulting primarily from government assistance programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, partly offset by a managed run-off of higher cost time deposits. The average cost of deposits improved, decreasing by 16 basis points to 0.21 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from 0.37 percent in the same quarter last year.

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Transaction account balances or “core deposits” increased $33.2 million, or five percent, to $756.2 million at December 31, 2020 from $723.0 million at June 30, 2020, while time deposits decreased $16.2 million, or 10 percent, to $153.8 million at December 31, 2020 from $170.0 million at June 30, 2020.

The average balance of borrowings, which consisted of FHLB advances, increased $3.7 million, or three percent, to $134.8 million while the average cost of borrowings decreased seven basis points to 2.36 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, compared to an average balance of $131.1 million with an average cost of 2.43 percent in the same quarter of fiscal 2020. The increase in the average balance of borrowings was primarily due to new borrowings with a lower average cost.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company recorded a provision for loan losses of $39,000, in contrast to a $22,000 recovery from the allowance for loan losses recorded during the same period of fiscal 2020 and lower than the provision for loan losses of $220,000 recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 (sequential quarter).  The provision for loan losses in the last four quarters was primarily due to a qualitative component established in our allowance for loan losses methodology in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued and forecasted adverse economic impact. The lower provision for the current quarter primarily reflects the decrease in loan balances partially offset by an increase in non-performing loans as well as an improvement in the forecasted economic metrics utilized during the current quarter while the provision for loan losses recorded in the preceding quarters primarily reflected the deterioration in forecasted economic metrics as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Non-performing assets, comprised solely of non-performing loans with underlying collateral located in California, increased $5.4 million, or 109 percent, to $10.3 million, or 0.88 percent of total assets, at December 31, 2020, compared to $4.9 million, or 0.42 percent of total assets, at June 30, 2020. The non-performing loans at December 31, 2020 are comprised of 33 single-family loans. At both December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020, there was no real estate owned.

Net loan recoveries for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 were $9,000 or 0.00 percent (annualized) of average loans receivable, as compared to net loan recoveries of $14,000 or 0.01 percent (annualized) of average loans receivable for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 and net loan recoveries of $5,000 or 0.00 percent (annualized) of average loans receivable for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 (sequential quarter).

Classified assets, comprised solely of loans, were $14.9 million at December 31, 2020, including $4.6 million of loans in the special mention category and $10.3 million of loans in the substandard category; while classified assets at June 30, 2020 were $14.1 million, including $8.6 million of loans in the special mention category and $5.5 million of loans in the substandard category.

The Bank has received requests from borrowers for some type of payment relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Loans that were current on their payments prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and modified by deferred payments, are not considered to be troubled debt restructurings pursuant to applicable accounting guidance through the earlier of January 1, 2022, or 60 days after the national emergency concerning COVID-19 declared by the president terminates. The primary method of relief is to allow the borrower to defer loan payments for up to an initial six-month period, although we have also waived late fees

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and suspended foreclosure proceedings. Loans in which their payments are deferred beyond the initial six months are no longer in forbearance and are subsequently classified as troubled debt restructuring. As of December 31, 2020, there were six single-family loans in forbearance with outstanding balances of approximately $1.8 million or 0.21 percent of gross loans held for investment and two multi-family loans in forbearance with outstanding balances of approximately $763,000 or 0.09 percent of gross loans held for investment. In addition, as of December 31, 2020, the Bank had two pending requests for payment relief for a single-family loan of $684,000 and a multi-family loan of $1.1 million. Interest income is recognized during the forbearance period unless the loans are classified as non-performing. After the payment deferral period, scheduled loan payments will once again become due and payable.  The forbearance amount will be due and payable in full as a balloon payment at the end of the loan term or sooner if the loan becomes due and payable in full at an earlier date. The Company believes the steps it is taking are necessary to effectively manage the loan portfolio and assist its customers through the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the duration, impact and government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2020, 16 loans previously in a COVID-19 related payment forbearance were restructured and classified as restructured loans, while one restructured loan was upgraded to the pass category. For the six months ended December 31, 2020, these 16 loans and one pass loan were restructured and classified as restructured loans, while two restructured loans were upgraded to the pass category. The outstanding balance of restructured loans at December 31, 2020 was $8.2 million (23 loans) up from $2.6 million (eight loans) at June 30, 2020. As of December 31, 2020, all of the

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restructured loans were classified as substandard non-accrual and all of the restructured loans have a current payment status consistent with their restructuring terms.

The allowance for loan losses was $8.5 million at December 31, 2020, or 0.99 percent of gross loans held for investment, compared to $8.3 million at June 30, 2020, or 0.91 percent of gross loans held for investment. Management believes that, based on currently available information, the allowance for loan losses is sufficient to absorb potential losses inherent in loans held for investment at December 31, 2020 under the incurred loss methodology.

Non-interest income decreased by $370,000, or 28 percent, to $974,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from $1.34 million in the same period of fiscal 2020, primarily due to a decrease in loan servicing and other fees resulting from lower loan prepayment fees and decreases in deposit account fees reflecting reduced transactions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income decreased $185,000, or 16 percent, primarily as a result of a decrease in loan servicing and other fees resulting from lower loan prepayment fees.

Non-interest expenses decreased $638,000, or eight percent, to $6.92 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 from $7.55 million in the same quarter last year due primarily to lower salaries and employee benefits expense resulting from fewer employees and lower incentive compensation. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expenses decreased $69,000 or one percent to $6.92 million from $6.99 million, primarily due to lower salaries and employee benefits expense.

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The Company’s efficiency ratio in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was 80 percent, up from 69 percent in the same quarter last year and 75 percent in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 (sequential quarter) primarily due to the decrease in net interest income.

The Company’s provision for income tax was $481,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2021, down 54 percent from $1.05 million in the same quarter last year primarily due to lower pre-tax income. The effective tax rate in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 was 29.0%. The Company believes that the tax provision recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2021 reflects its current federal and state income tax obligations.

The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 pursuant to its stock repurchase plan. As of December 31, 2020, a total of 371,815 shares or 100 percent of the shares authorized for repurchase under the April 2020 stock repurchase plan are available to purchase.

The Bank currently operates 13 retail/business banking offices in Riverside County and San Bernardino County (Inland Empire).

The Company will host a conference call for institutional investors and bank analysts on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) to discuss its financial results.  The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-692-8955 and referencing access code number 9568794.  An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, February 4, 2021 by dialing 1-866-207-1041 and referencing access code number 8567286.

For more financial information about the Company please visit the website at www.myprovident.com and click on the “Investor Relations” section.

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Safe-Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that the Company believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, as they are subject to risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements the Company may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to the Company. There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited  to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, including on Company’s credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions and other uncertainties resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the extent and duration of the impact on public health, the U.S. and global economies, and consumer and corporate customers, including economic activity, employment levels and market liquidity; increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; legislative and regulatory changes,; including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) - which are available on our website at www.myprovident.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2021 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us and could negatively affect our operating and stock price performance

Contacts:	Craig G. Blunden	Donavon P. Ternes
	Chairman and	President, Chief Operating Officer
	Chief Executive Officer	and Chief Financial Officer

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