NEW YORK, April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY), the holding company for Valley National Bank, today reported net income for the first quarter 2024 of $96.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share, as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 net income of $71.6 million, or $0.13 per diluted common share, and net income of $146.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted common share, for the first quarter 2023. Excluding all non-core income and charges, our adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) was $99.4 million, or $0.19 per diluted common share, for the first quarter 2024, $116.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter 2023, and $154.5 million, or $0.30 per diluted common share, for the first quarter 2023. See further details below, including a reconciliation of our non-GAAP adjusted net income, in the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables.

Key financial highlights for the first quarter 2024:

• Non-Interest Income: Non-interest income increased $8.7 million to $61.4 million for the first quarter 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 mainly driven by increases in wealth management and trust fees, including revenue associated with our tax credit advisory subsidiary, and service charges on deposit accounts totaling $6.0 million and $1.9 million, respectively, and a $3.6 million net gain on the sale of our commercial premium finance lending business in February 2024. These increases were partially offset by lower insurance commissions income and swap fees related to commercial loan transactions included in capital market fees.
• Non-Interest Expense: Non-interest expense decreased $60.1 million to $280.3 million for the first quarter 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 largely due to decreases in the FDIC special assessment, merger related contract termination expenses, and consulting expenses related to our implementation of a new single core banking system in the fourth quarter of 2023. Other expense also declined $7.6 million from the fourth quarter 2023 due to reductions in several general expense categories. These decreases were partially offset by higher salary and employee benefits expense mostly due to normal seasonal increases in payroll taxes and other items during the first quarter 2024. We recorded estimated expenses related to the FDIC special assessment of $7.4 million and $50.3 million during the first quarter 2024 and fourth quarter 2023, respectively. See the non-GAAP reconciliations in the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables below for additional information regarding our non-core charges, including the FDIC special assessment and merger related expenses.
• Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses for Loans: The allowance for credit losses for loans totaled $487.3 million and $465.6 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, representing 0.98 percent and 0.93 percent of total loans at each respective date. During the first quarter 2024, we recorded a provision for credit losses for loans of $45.3 million as compared to $20.7 million and $9.5 million for the fourth quarter 2023 and first quarter 2023, respectively. The increase in the first quarter 2024 provision was mostly due to higher quantitative reserves allocated to commercial real estate loans at March 31, 2024.
• Credit Quality: Total accruing past due loans decreased $17.2 million to $74.4 million, or 0.15 percent of total loans, at March 31, 2024 as compared to $91.6 million, or 0.18 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2023. Non-accrual loans represented 0.58 percent of total loans at both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Net loan charge-offs totaled $23.6 million for the first quarter 2024 as compared to $17.5 million and $30.4 million for the fourth quarter 2023 and first quarter 2023, respectively. The loan charge-offs in the first quarter 2024 included partial charge-offs totaling $9.5 million related to one non-performing taxi medallion loan relationship within the commercial and industrial loans and $7.6 million of partial charge-offs related to two construction loan relationships. See the "Credit Quality" section below for more details.
• Loan Portfolio: Total loans decreased $288.3 million, or 2.3 percent on an annualized basis, to $49.9 billion at March 31, 2024 from December 31, 2023 largely due to the sale of $196.5 million of commercial real estate and construction loans through loan participation agreements at par value in March 2024, and the sale of $93.6 million of commercial and industrial loans associated with the sale of our premium finance lending division in February 2024. During the first quarter 2024, we also transferred $34.1 million of construction loans to loans held for sale at March 31, 2024. Organic loan volumes in most categories remained at modest levels during the first quarter 2024 due to the ongoing impact of elevated market interest rates and other factors. See the "Loans" section below for more details.
• Deposits: Total deposits decreased $164.9 million to $49.1 billion at March 31, 2024 as compared to $49.2 billion at December 31, 2023. During the first quarter 2024, the contractual run-off of higher cost time deposits combined with a $266.2 million decrease in non-interest bearing deposits was largely offset by solid growth in direct interest bearing deposits across several delivery channels. See the "Deposits" section below for more details.
• Net Interest Income and Margin: Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis of $394.8 million for the first quarter 2024 decreased $3.7 million compared to the fourth quarter 2023 and decreased $42.6 million as compared to the first quarter 2023. Our net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased by 3 basis points to 2.79 percent in the first quarter 2024 as compared to 2.82 percent for the fourth quarter 2023. The moderate decline in both net interest income and margin as compared to the linked quarter reflects the ongoing repricing of our interest bearing deposits, net of a 6 basis point increase in the yield of average interest earning assets for the first quarter 2024. See the "Net Interest Income and Margin" section below for more details.
• Income Tax Expense: Our effective tax rate was 25.6 percent for the first quarter 2024 as compared to 19.6 percent for the fourth quarter 2023. The increase was mainly attributable to larger tax credits recorded during the fourth quarter 2023 resulting in a lower effective tax rate.
• Efficiency Ratio: Our efficiency ratio was 59.10 percent for the first quarter 2024 as compared to 60.70 percent and 53.79 percent for the fourth quarter 2023 and first quarter 2023, respectively. See the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables below for additional information regarding our non-GAAP measures.
• Performance Ratios: Annualized return on average assets (ROA), shareholders’ equity (ROE) and tangible ROE were 0.63 percent, 5.73 percent and 8.19 percent for the first quarter 2024, respectively. Annualized ROA, ROE, and tangible ROE, adjusted for non-core income and charges, were 0.65 percent, 5.91 percent and 8.46 percent for the first quarter 2024, respectively. See the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables below for additional information regarding our non-GAAP measures.

Ira Robbins, CEO commented, "I am extremely pleased with the first quarter's strong financial results. Asset quality results remain extremely stable, and our provision for credit losses reflects the rigorous stress testing efforts that we continue to undertake. We have proactively slowed loan growth and undertaken modest balance sheet efforts to enhance our financial flexibility."

Mr. Robbins continued, "Our pre-provision earnings reflect the diversity of our revenue base. We have responded to headwinds associated with the inverted yield curve by more proactively managing our expense base which supported the stronger results for the quarter. The environment remains challenging, but I am confident that our balance sheet and operational efforts are appropriate and will continue to contribute to our future success."

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis totaling $394.8 million for the first quarter 2024 decreased $3.7 million and $42.6 million as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 and first quarter 2023, respectively. The slight decrease as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 was mainly due to an increase in average short-term borrowings and the higher level of interest rates across most interest bearing deposit products, partially offset by higher loan yields, a decline in average time deposit balances and one less day during the first quarter 2024. As a result of the higher cost of short-term borrowings and deposits, total interest expense increased $14.2 million to $435.1 million for the first quarter 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter 2023. Interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased $10.5 million to $830.0 million for the first quarter 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter 2023. The increase was mostly due to higher yields on both new originations and adjustable rate loans in our loan portfolio, as well as higher yields on investments, partially offset by a decline in average interest bearing deposits with banks as we reduced overnight excess cash liquidity in the first quarter 2024.

Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis of 2.79 percent for the first quarter 2024 decreased by 3 basis points and 37 basis points from 2.82 percent and 3.16 percent, respectively, for the fourth quarter 2023 and first quarter 2023. The decrease as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 was largely driven by the higher cost of interest bearing deposits and short-term borrowings, partially offset by an increase in the yield on average interest earning assets. Our cost of total average deposits was 3.16 percent for the first quarter 2024 as compared to 3.13 percent and 1.96 percent for the fourth quarter 2023 and the first quarter 2023, respectively. The overall cost of average interest bearing liabilities increased 6 basis points to 4.19 percent for the first quarter 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 primarily driven by the higher level of market interest rates on deposits and short-term borrowings. The yield on average interest earning assets also increased by 6 basis points to 5.86 percent on a linked quarter basis largely due to the increased yield of the loan portfolio. The yield on average loans increased by 4 basis points to 6.14 percent for the first quarter 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 mostly due to the higher level of market interest rates on new originations and adjustable rate loans.

Loans, Deposits and Other Borrowings

Loans. Total loans decreased $288.3 million to $49.9 billion at March 31, 2024 from December 31, 2023. Total commercial real estate (including construction) decreased $264.6 million, or 3.3 percent on an annualized basis during the first quarter 2024. This decline was primarily driven by the sale of $151.0 million and $45.6 million of commercial real estate and construction loans, respectively, through loan participation agreements with Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M. (BLITA) in March 2024. During the first quarter 2024, we also transferred $34.1 million of construction loans from loans held for investment to loans held for sale as of March 31, 2024 and subsequently sold the loans at par value to BLITA in April 2024. Commercial and industrial loans declined $126.4 million during the first quarter 2024 mostly due to the sale of $93.6 million of loans associated with our premium finance lending division and the contractual run-off of premium finance loans that were retained and not sold. Our retained commercial premium finance portfolio totaled $145.7 million at March 31, 2024 and is expected to mostly run-off at their scheduled maturity dates over the next 12 months. Our residential mortgage portfolio increased $49.3 million during the first quarter 2024 as we continue to retain a large portion of new originations for investment. We sold $40.2 million and $49.9 million of residential mortgage loans held for sale during the first quarter 2024 and fourth quarter 2023, respectively. Automobile loan balances increased by $80.1 million, or 19.8 percent on an annualized basis during the first quarter 2024 mainly due to a slight uptick in application volume and slower repayments as compared to the fourth quarter 2024.

Deposits. Total deposits decreased $164.9 million to $49.1 billion at March 31, 2024 from December 31, 2023 mainly due to decreases of $433.0 million and $266.2 million in time deposits and non-interest bearing deposits, respectively, largely offset by an increase of $534.3 million in savings, NOW and money market deposits. The decrease in time deposits was primarily due to intentional run-off of higher cost government banking time deposits which had matured. Non-interest bearing balances declined during the first quarter 2024, though remained unchanged as a percentage of total deposits, as some customers continue to closely manage balances and shift funds into other higher-yielding alternatives. The solid growth in savings, NOW and money market deposits was mostly attributable to inflows from our specialty niche deposits, traditional branch and online delivery channels. Non-interest bearing deposits; savings, NOW and money market deposits; and time deposits represented approximately 23 percent, 51 percent and 26 percent of total deposits as of March 31, 2024, respectively, as compared to 23 percent, 50 percent and 27 percent of total deposits as of December 31, 2023, respectively.

Other Borrowings. Short-term borrowings decreased $842.6 million to $75.2 million at March 31, 2024 as compared to December 31, 2023 mainly due to maturities and repayment of FHLB advances. Long-term borrowings increased $934.0 million to $3.3 billion at March 31, 2024 as compared to $2.3 billion at December 31, 2023. The increase was due to $1.0 billion of new FHLB advances issued during early March 2024 as management elected to shift its maturing higher cost short-term FHLB funding to lower cost long-term borrowings. The $1.0 billion in new FHLB borrowings has a weighted average rate of 4.52 percent and a weighted average remaining contractual term of 3.6 years at March 31, 2024.

Credit Quality

Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). Total NPAs, consisting of non-accrual loans, other real estate owned (OREO) and other repossessed assets, decreased $4.6 million to $288.8 million at March 31, 2024 as compared to December 31, 2023 mainly due to lower non-accrual construction loan balances. Non-accrual construction loans decreased $9.0 million to $51.8 million at March 31, 2024 as compared to December 31, 2023 largely due to partial loan charge-offs related to two loan relationships during the first quarter 2024. Non-accrual commercial and industrial loans increased $2.5 million to $102.4 million at March 31, 2024 as compared to December 31, 2023 mainly due to one new non-performing loan relationship totaling $13.3 million, which was largely offset by $9.5 million of partial charge-offs of taxi cab medallion loans during the first quarter 2024. Non-accrual loans represented 0.58 percent of total loans at both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.

Accruing Past Due Loans. Total accruing past due loans (i.e., loans past due 30 days or more and still accruing interest) decreased $17.2 million to $74.4 million, or 0.15 percent of total loans, at March 31, 2024 as compared to $91.6 million, or 0.18 percent of total loans at December 31, 2023. Loans 30 to 59 days past due decreased $12.4 million to $46.8 million at March 31, 2024 as compared to December 31, 2023 largely due to lower residential mortgage, consumer and commercial and industrial loan delinquencies. Loans 60 to 89 days past due decreased $5.1 million to $14.2 million at March 31, 2024 as compared to December 31, 2023 also largely due to lower delinquencies across most of the loan categories. Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest totaled $13.4 million at March 31, 2024 and remained relatively unchanged as compared to December 31, 2023. All loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest are well-secured and in the process of collection.

Allowance for Credit Losses for Loans and Unfunded Commitments. The following table summarizes the allocation of the allowance for credit losses to loan categories and the allocation as a percentage of each loan category at March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023:

Our loan portfolio, totaling $49.9 billion at March 31, 2024, had net loan charge-offs totaling $23.6 million for the first quarter 2024 as compared to $17.5 million and $30.4 million for the fourth quarter 2023 and the first quarter 2023, respectively. The increase in net loan charge-offs for the first quarter 2024 as compared to the fourth quarter 2023 was mainly due to higher commercial and industrial loan and construction loan charge-offs. The loan charge-offs in the first quarter 2024 included partial charge-offs totaling $9.5 million related to one non-performing taxi medallion loan relationship within the commercial and industrial loans and $7.6 million of partial charge-offs related to two construction loan relationships.

The allowance for credit losses for loans, comprised of our allowance for loan losses and unfunded credit commitments, as a percentage of total loans was 0.98 percent at March 31, 2024, 0.93 percent at December 31, 2023, and 0.95 percent at March 31, 2023. For the first quarter 2024, the provision for credit losses for loans totaled $45.3 million as compared to $20.7 million and $9.5 million for the fourth quarter 2023 and first quarter 2023, respectively. The increased provision for credit losses for the first quarter 2024 was mainly driven by higher quantitative reserves related to the commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, and construction loan portfolios. This increase was partially offset by lower qualitative and economic forecast reserves at March 31, 2024.

Capital Adequacy

Valley's total risk-based capital, common equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Tier 1 leverage capital ratios were 11.88 percent, 9.34 percent, 9.78 percent and 8.20 percent, respectively, at March 31, 2024.

Investor Conference Call

Valley will host a conference call with investors and the financial community at 11:00 AM (ET) today to discuss the first quarter 2024 earnings and related matters. Interested parties should preregister using this link: https://register.vevent.com/register to receive the dial-in number and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call. The teleconference will also be webcast live: https://edge.media-server.com and archived on Valley’s website through Friday, May 31, 2024. Investor presentation materials will be made available prior to the conference call at www.valley.com.

About Valley

As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with over $61 billion in assets. Valley is committed to giving people and businesses the power to succeed. Valley operates many convenient branch locations and commercial banking offices across New Jersey, New York, Florida, Alabama, California and Illinois, and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable team dedicated to meeting customer needs. Helping communities grow and prosper is the heart of Valley’s corporate citizenship philosophy. To learn more about Valley, go to www.valley.com or call our Customer Care Center at 800-522-4100.

Forward Looking Statements

The foregoing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not historical facts and include expressions about management’s confidence and strategies and management’s expectations about our business, new and existing programs and products, acquisitions, relationships, opportunities, taxation, technology, market conditions and economic expectations. These statements may be identified by such forward-looking terminology as “intend,” “should,” “expect,” “believe,” “view,” “opportunity,” “allow,” “continues,” “reflects,” “typically,” “usually,” “anticipate,” “may,” “estimate,” “outlook,” “project” or similar statements or variations of such terms. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

• the impact of monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government and its agencies, including in response to higher inflation, which could have a material adverse effect on our clients, as well as our business, our employees, and our ability to provide services to our customers;
• the impact of a potential U.S. Government shutdown, default by the U.S. government on its debt obligations, or related credit-rating downgrades, on economic activity in the markets in which we operate and, in general, on levels of end market demand in the economy;
• the impact of unfavorable macroeconomic conditions or downturns, instability or volatility in financial markets, unanticipated loan delinquencies, loss of collateral, decreased service revenues, increased business disruptions or failures, reductions in employment, and other potential negative effects on our business, employees or clients caused by factors outside of our control, such as geopolitical instabilities or events (including the Israel-Hamas war); natural and other disasters (including severe weather events); health emergencies; acts of terrorism or other external events;
• the impact of potential instability within the U.S. financial sector in the aftermath of the banking failures in 2023, including the possibility of a run on deposits by a coordinated deposit base, and the impact of the actual or perceived soundness, or concerns about the creditworthiness of other financial institutions, including any resulting disruption within the financial markets, increased expenses, including FDIC insurance premiums, or adverse impact on our stock price, deposits or our ability to borrow or raise capital;
• the impact of negative public opinion regarding Valley or banks in general that damages our reputation and adversely impacts business and revenues;
• greater than expected costs or difficulties related to Valley's new core banking system implemented in the fourth quarter 2023 and continued enhancements to processes and systems under Valley's current technology roadmap;
• the loss of or decrease in lower-cost funding sources within our deposit base;
• damage verdicts or settlements or restrictions related to existing or potential class action litigation or individual litigation arising from claims of violations of laws or regulations, contractual claims, breach of fiduciary responsibility, negligence, fraud, environmental laws, patent, trademark or other intellectual property infringement, misappropriation or other violation, employment related claims, and other matters;
• a prolonged downturn in the economy, as well as an unexpected decline in commercial real estate values collateralizing a significant portion of our loan portfolio;
• higher or lower than expected income tax expense or tax rates, including increases or decreases resulting from changes in uncertain tax position liabilities, tax laws, regulations and case law;
• the inability to grow customer deposits to keep pace with loan growth;
• a material change in our allowance for credit losses under CECL due to forecasted economic conditions and/or unexpected credit deterioration in our loan and investment portfolios;
• the need to supplement debt or equity capital to maintain or exceed internal capital thresholds;
• greater than expected technology related costs due to, among other factors, prolonged or failed implementations, additional project staffing and obsolescence caused by continuous and rapid market innovations;
• cyberattacks, ransomware attacks, computer viruses, malware or other cybersecurity incidents that may breach the security of our websites or other systems or networks to obtain unauthorized access to personal, confidential, proprietary or sensitive information, destroy data, disable or degrade service, or sabotage our systems or networks;
• results of examinations by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve Bank, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other regulatory authorities, including the possibility that any such regulatory authority may, among other things, require us to increase our allowance for credit losses, write-down assets, reimburse customers, change the way we do business, or limit or eliminate certain other banking activities;
• our inability or determination not to pay dividends at current levels, or at all, because of inadequate earnings, regulatory restrictions or limitations, changes in our capital requirements or a decision to increase capital by retaining more earnings;
• unanticipated loan delinquencies, loss of collateral, decreased service revenues, and other potential negative effects on our business caused by severe weather, pandemics or other public health crises, acts of terrorism or other external events; and
• unexpected significant declines in the loan portfolio due to the lack of economic expansion, increased competition, large prepayments, changes in regulatory lending guidance or other factors.
  

A detailed discussion of factors that could affect our results is included in our SEC filings, including Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in our expectations, except as required by law. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

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VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

NOTES TO SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
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VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP
Quarterly Analysis of Average Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity and
Net Interest Income on a Tax Equivalent Basis

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(1)  Interest income is presented on a tax equivalent basis using a 21 percent federal tax rate.
(2)  Loans are stated net of unearned income and include non-accrual loans.
(3)  The yield for securities that are classified as available for sale is based on the average historical amortized cost.
(4)  Includes junior subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts which are presented separately on the consolidated statements of condition.
(5)  Interest rate spread represents the difference between the average yield on interest earning assets and the average cost of interest bearing liabilities and is presented on a fully tax equivalent basis.
(6)  Net interest income as a percentage of total average interest earning assets.