Shreveport, Louisiana , April 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: HFBL), the holding company of Home Federal Bank, reported net income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, of $732,000 compared to net income of $1.1 million reported for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company’s basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.24 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.35 and $0.34, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company reported net income of $3.0 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $4.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2023. The Company’s basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.97 and $0.95, respectively, for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $1.48 and $1.41, respectively, for the nine months ended March 31, 2023.

The Company reported the following highlights during the nine months ended March 31, 2024:

The decrease in net income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, resulted from a decrease in net interest income of $1.1 million, or 19.5%, and a decrease in non-interest income of $2,000, or 0.4%, partially offset by a decrease in non-interest expense of $507,000, or 11.3%, a decrease in the provision of credit losses of $139,000, or 92.7%, and a decrease in provision for income taxes of $95,000, or 35.1%. The decrease in net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, resulted from an increase in total interest expense of $1.9 million, or 126.4%, partially offset by an increase in total interest income of $877,000, or 12.5%. The Company’s average interest rate spread was 2.16% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to 3.15% for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The Company’s net interest margin was 2.89% for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to 3.56% for the three months ended March 31, 2023.

The decrease in net income for the nine months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, resulted from a decrease in net interest income of $1.5 million, or 9.4%, an increase in non-interest expense of $619,000, or 5.2%, and a decrease in non-interest income of $516,000, or 32.4%, partially offset by a decrease in the provision of credit losses of $723,000, or 100.7%, and a decrease in provision for income taxes of $433,000, or 59.9%. The decrease in net interest income for the nine months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, resulted from an increase in total interest expense of $6.7 million, or 240.1%, partially offset by an increase in total interest income of $5.2 million, or 27.3%. The Company’s average interest rate spread was 2.46% for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to 3.55% for the nine months ended March 31, 2023. The Company’s net interest margin was 3.14% for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to 3.84% for the nine months ended March 31, 2023.

On July 1, 2023, the Company adopted the new current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology for estimating credit losses. This resulted in a $189,000 increase to the allowance for credit losses (the “ACL”) and a one-time cumulative adjustment resulted in a $189,000 decrease to stockholders’ equity. For purchased credit deteriorated loans, the Company applied the guidance under CECL using the prospective transition approach. As a result, the Company adjusted the amortized cost basis of the purchased credit deteriorated loans by $170,000 to reclassify the purchase discount to the allowance for credit losses on July 1, 2023. The ACL account increased $359,000 from these two transactions. No provision expense was recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, a recovery of credit losses of $16,000 was recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 and a provision of $11,000 was recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2024. As of March 31, 2024, the ACL was $4.9 million, and the ratio of ACL to gross loans was 0.97%. As of June 30, 2023, the ACL was $5.2 million, and the ratio of ACL to gross loans was 1.05%.

The following tables set forth the Company’s average balances and average yields earned and rates paid on its interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated.

The $2,000 decrease in non-interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, resulted from a decrease in gain on sale of loans of $18,000, a decrease in service charges on deposit accounts of $17,000, and a decrease in gain on sale of fixed assets of $4,000, partially offset by an increase in gain on sale of securities of $26,000, an increase in other non-interest income of $8,000, and an increase in income on bank owned life insurance of $3,000. The $516,000 decrease in non-interest income for the nine months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, resulted from an increase in loss on sale of real estate of $415,000, a decrease in gain on sale of loans of $220,000, and a decrease in gain on sale of fixed assets of $4,000, partially offset by an increase in service charges on deposit accounts of $77,000, an increase in gain on sale of securities of $26,000, an increase in other non-interest income of $15,000, and an increase in income from bank owned life insurance of $5,000. The decreases in gain on sale of loans for both the quarter and nine months ended March 31, 2024, were primarily due to a decrease in mortgage loan originations caused by the higher interest rate environment. The loss on sale of real estate for the nine months ended March 31, 2024, was primarily due to the bulk sale of twenty-one distressed rental properties.

The $507,000 decrease in non-interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, resulted from decreases in professional fees of $789,000, data processing expense of $24,000, advertising expense of $20,000, occupancy and equipment expense of $8,000, and loan and collection expense of $3,000, partially offset by increases in compensation and benefits expense of $134,000, other non-interest expense of $130,000, deposit insurance premium expense of $41,000, franchise and bank shares tax expense of $23,000, amortization of core deposit intangible expense of $8,000, and audit and examination fees of $1,000. The $619,000 increase in non-interest expense for the nine months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023, resulted from increases in compensation and benefits expense of $443,000, audit and examination fees of $213,000, amortization of core deposit intangible expense of $187,000, deposit insurance premium expense of $139,000, other non-interest expense of $104,000, franchise and bank shares tax expense of $102,000, occupancy and equipment expense of $85,000, and advertising expense of $64,000, partially offset by decreases in professional fees of $642,000, data processing expense of $51,000, and loan and collection expense of $25,000. The decrease in professional fees for both periods was due to the acquisition of First National Bank of Benton, which increased professional fees for the March 31, 2023 quarter. The increases in compensation and benefits expense were primarily due to additional branch and back office staff.

Total assets decreased $17.9 million, or 2.7%, from $660.9 million at June 30, 2023 to $643.0 million at March 31, 2024. The decrease in assets was comprised of decreases in cash and cash equivalents of $16.7 million, or 67.6%, from $24.8 million at June 30, 2023 to $8.0 million at March 31, 2024, investment securities of $13.8 million, or 12.1%, from $114.0 million at June 30, 2023 to $100.1 million at March 31, 2024, real estate owned of $368,000, or 100.0% from $368,000 at June 30, 2023 to none at March 31, 2024, core deposit intangible of $258,000, or 16.8%, from $1.5 million at June 30, 2023 to $1.3 million at March 31, 2024, other assets of $132,000, or 9.3%, from $1.4 million at June 30, 2023 to $1.3 million at March 31, 2024, deferred tax asset of $40,000, or 3.0%, from $1.31 million at June 30, 2023 to $1.27 million at March 31, 2024, and partially offset by increases in net loans receivable of $9.8 million, or 2.0%, from $489.5 million at June 30, 2023 to $499.3 million at March 31, 2024, loans-held-for-sale of $1.9 million, from $4,000 at June 30, 2023 to $1.9 million at March 31, 2024, premises and equipment of $1.6 million, or 9.7%, from $16.6 million at June 30, 2023 to $18.2 million at March 31, 2024, accrued interest receivable of $142,000, or 7.9%, from $1.8 million at June 30, 2023 to $1.9 million at March 31, 2024, and bank owned life insurance of $82,000, or 1.2%, from $6.7 million at June 30, 2023 to $6.8 million at March 31, 2024. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to a decrease in total deposits and the funding of additional loan growth. The decrease in held to maturity securities was primarily due to $4.2 million in principal payments.

Total liabilities decreased $19.9 million, or 3.3%, from $610.4 million at June 30, 2023 to $590.5 million at March 31, 2024. The decrease in liabilities was comprised of decreases in total deposits of $18.5 million, or 3.1%, from $597.4 million at June 30, 2023 to $578.9 million at March 31, 2024, other accrued expenses and liabilities of $1.2 million, or 31.4%, from $3.9 million at June 30, 2023 to $2.7 million at March 31, 2024, advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance of $138,000, or 24.9 %, from $554,000 at June 30, 2023 to $416,000 at March 31, 2024, and other borrowings of $50,000, or 0.6%, from $8.6 million at June 30, 2023 to $8.5 million at March 31, 2024. The decrease in deposits resulted from decreases in money market deposits of $33.9 million, or 29.6%, from $114.2 million at June 30, 2023 to $80.3 million at March 31, 2024, non-interest deposits of $13.0 million, or 8.9%, from $145.6 million at June 30, 2023 to $132.6 million at March 31, 2024, and savings deposits of $10.1 million, or 12.3%, from $81.9 million at June 30, 2023 to $71.8 million at March 31, 2024, partially offset by increases in certificates of deposit of $38.4 million, or 20.2%, from $190.4 million at June 30, 2023 to $228.8 million at March 31, 2024, and NOW accounts of $37,000, or 0.1%, from $65.3 million at June 30, 2023 to $65.4 million at March 31, 2024. The Company had no balances in brokered deposits at March 31, 2024 compared to $3.0 million at June 30, 2023. There was a shift of balances between deposit categories due to customers moving funds from lower yielding categories to higher yielding categories. The $18.5 million decrease in deposits from June 30, 2023 to March 31, 2024 was primarily due to an estate settlement totaling $24.8 million. $15.4 million of the settlement has been paid out to date, with the remaining $9.4 million to be paid out in the future.

At March 31, 2024, the Company had $2.4 million of non-performing assets (defined as non-accruing loans, accruing loans 90 days or more past due, and other real estate owned) compared to $1.6 million on non-performing assets at June 30, 2023, consisting of six commercial non-real estate loans, six single-family residential loans, three home equity line-of-credit loans, and one land loan at March 31, 2024, compared to seven single-family residential loans, three commercial non-real estate loans, one consumer loan and two single-family residences in other real estate owned at June 30, 2023. At March 31, 2024 the Company had seven commercial non-real-estate loans, seven single family residential loans, four home-equity line-of-credit loans, one land loans, and one auto loan classified as substandard, compared to ten single family residential loans, three commercial non-real-estate loans, two commercial real estate loans, and three home equity line-of-credit loans classified as substandard at June 30, 2023. There were no loans classified as doubtful at March 31, 2024 or June 30, 2023.

Shareholders’ equity increased $2.0 million, or 4.0%, from $50.5 million at June 30, 2023 to $52.6 million at March 31, 2024. The increase in shareholders’ equity was comprised of current year net income of $3.0 million, a decrease in the Company’s accumulated other comprehensive loss of $31,000, the vesting of restricted stock awards, stock options, and the release of employee stock ownership plan shares totaling $375,000, and proceeds from the issuance of common stock from the exercise of stock options of $19,000, partially offset by dividends paid totaling $1.2 million, CECL implementation totaling $189,000, and stock repurchases of $7,000.

Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana is the holding company for Home Federal Bank which conducts business from its ten full-service banking offices and home office in northwest Louisiana.

Statements contained in this news release which are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, and “intend”, or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “would”, “should”, “could”, or “may”. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

In addition to factors previously disclosed in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission and those identified elsewhere in this press release, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which the Company conducts its operations; general economic conditions; legislative and regulatory changes; monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government; changes in tax policies, rates and regulations of federal, state and local tax authorities including the effects of the Tax Reform Act; changes in interest rates, deposit flows, the cost of funds, demand for loan products and the demand for financial services, competition, changes in the quality or composition of the Company’s loans, investment and mortgage-backed securities portfolios; geographic concentration of the Company’s business; fluctuations in real estate values; the adequacy of loan loss reserves; the risk that goodwill and intangibles recorded in the Company’s financial statements will become impaired; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines and other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products, services and fees.

James R. Barlow
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
(318) 222-1145