GlobeNewswire Inc | Jul 30, 2020 08:00AM EDT

July 30, 2020

Second Quarter 2020 Results:

-- Net earnings of $1.7 million, compared to $2.3 million for Q2 2019 -- Earnings per share of $0.47 per share, compared to $0.64 per share for Q2 2019 -- Provision for loan losses of $450 thousand, compared to none for Q2 2019 -- Allowance for loan losses to total loans of 1.14%, compared to 0.95% at year-end 2019 -- $36.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans as of June 30, 2020

AUBURN, Ala., July 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. (Nasdaq: AUBN) reported net earnings of $1.7 million, or $0.47 per share, for the second quarter of 2020, compared to $2.3 million, or $0.64 per share, for the second quarter of 2019. Net earnings for the first six months of 2020 were $3.5 million, or $0.97 per share, compared to $4.9 million, or $1.35 per share, for the first six months of 2019.

Our immediate focus remains on the health, wellbeing, and safety of our employees, customers, and our communities. We continue to serve customers through drive-thru locations and have begun a phased approach to opening previously closed branches by guidance from the CDC, State Departments of Health and other governing bodies. Despite a challenging operating environment due to COVID-19, I am very pleased with our organizations response, said Robert W. Dumas, Chairman, President, and CEO.

Our participation in the Paycheck Protection Program was a valuable source of support for our customers and communities. Through June30, 2020, we funded $36.5million in loans for our customers, which helped support approximately 5,500 employees in our markets.

While a great deal of uncertainty remains regarding the duration of the pandemic, we believe the Companys strong balance sheet is well positioned to continue supporting our customers and communities through this crisis, said Mr. Dumas.

Net interest income (tax-equivalent) was $6.2 million for the second quarter of 2020, a decrease of 8% compared to $6.7 million for the second quarter of 2019. This decrease was primarily due to the lower rate environment, including a 150 basis point reduction in the Fed Funds rate that occurred late in the first quarter of 2020.

Net interest margin (tax-equivalent) decreased to 2.95% in the second quarter of 2020, compared to 3.50% for the second quarter of 2019 primarily due to the lower interest rate environment and changes in our asset mix resulting from the significant short-term liquidity increase in customer deposits.

At June 30, 2020, the Companys allowance for loan losses was $5.3 million, or 1.14% of total loans, compared to $4.4 million, or 0.95% of total loans, at December 31, 2019 and $4.9 million, or 1.02% of total loans, at June 30, 2019. At June 30, 2020, the Companys allowance for loan losses was 1.24% of total loans, excluding PPP loans.

The provision for loan losses was $450 thousand for the second quarter of 2020, compared to no provision for loan losses during the second quarter of 2019. The increase in the provision for loan losses was related to adverse changes in economic conditions driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher unemployment in our primary market area. The provision for loan losses is based upon various estimates and judgments, including the absolute level of loans, economic conditions, loan growth, credit quality and the amount of net charge-offs.

Through June 30, 2020, we have granted loan payment deferrals or payments of interest only on loans totaling $112.7 million, or 24% of total loans. In addition, we have identified certain commercial sectors with enhanced risk resulting from the impact of COVID-19. Loans within these sectors represent 68% of the Companys total COVID-19 related modifications at June 30, 2020. See table below for a summary of loans outstanding for these sectors at June 30, 2020.

Portfolio Segment Commercial Construction and Commercial % of(In thousands) and land development real estate Total Total industrial LoansJune 30, 2020: Hotel/motel $ 1,566 8,536 43,183 $ 52,472 11 %Shopping centers 19 ? 33,872 33,891 7 Retail,excluding 428 161 17,725 18,314 4 shopping centersRestaurants 1,562 ? 13,605 15,167 4 Total $ 3,575 8,697 108,385 $ 119,844 26 %

The Company extended a total of $36.5 million in loans to 422 small businesses under the Small Business Administrations Paycheck Protection Program during the second quarter of 2020. We collected approximately $1.5 million in fees related to our PPP loans, which will be recognized net of related costs, as a yield adjustment over the life of the underlying PPP loans.

Noninterest income was $1.4 million in the second quarter of 2020 and $0.9 million in the second quarter of 2019. The increase was primarily due to an increase in mortgage lending income as lower interest rates for mortgage loans positively affected refinance activity and pricing margins improved.

Noninterest expense was $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2020 compared to $4.6 million during the second quarter of 2019. The increase was mainly due to $0.5 million of various expenses related to the redevelopment of the Companys headquarters in downtown Auburn, including revised depreciation estimates and temporary relocation costs.

Income tax expense was $0.4 million for the second quarter of 2020 compared to $0.5 million during second quarter of 2019. The Company's effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2020 was 17.93%, compared to 19.14% in the second quarter of 2019.

The Company paid cash dividends of $0.255 per share in the second quarter of 2020, an increase of 2% from the same period in 2019. At March 31, 2020, the Banks regulatory capital ratios were well above the minimum amounts required to be well capitalized under current regulatory standards.

About Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc.

Auburn National Bancorporation, Inc. (the Company) is the parent company of AuburnBank (the Bank), with total assets of approximately $943 million. The Bank is an Alabama state-chartered bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System, which has operated continuously since 1907. Both the Company and the Bank are headquartered in Auburn, Alabama. The Bank conducts its business in East Alabama, including Lee County and surrounding areas. The Bank operates eight full-service branches in Auburn, Opelika, Valley, and Notasulga, Alabama. The Bank also operates loan production offices in Auburn and Phenix City, Alabama. Additional information about the Company and the Bank may be found by visiting www.auburnbank.com.

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including, without limitation, statements about future financial and operating results, costs and revenues, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including economic conditions generally and in our markets, loan demand, mortgage lending activity, changes in the mix of our earning assets (including those generating tax exempt income) and our deposit and wholesale liabilities, net interest margin, yields on earning assets, securities valuations and performance, interest rates (generally and those applicable to our assets and liabilities), loan performance, loan deferrals, nonperforming assets, other real estate owned, provision for loan losses, charge-offs, other-than-temporary impairments, collateral values, credit quality, asset sales, insurance claims, and market trends, as well as statements with respect to our objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical facts.Actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements, with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control, and which may cause the actual results, performance, achievements, or financial condition of the Company or the Bank to be materially different from future results, performance, achievements, or financial condition expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.You should not expect us to update any forward-looking statements.

All written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice, together with those risks and uncertainties described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December31, 2019 and otherwise in our other SEC reports and filings.

Explanation of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).The attached financial highlights include certain designated net interest income amounts presented on a tax-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP financial measure, and the presentation and calculation of the efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP measure. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of the Companys performance and believes the presentation of net interest income on a tax-equivalent basis provides comparability of net interest income from both taxable and tax-exempt sources and facilitates comparability within the industry. Similarly, the efficiency ratio is a common measure that facilitates comparability with other financial institutions. Although the Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures enhance investors understanding of its business and performance, these non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered an alternative to GAAP. Along with the attached financial highlights, the Company provides reconciliations between the GAAP financial measures and these non-GAAP financial measures.

For additional information, contact:Robert W. DumasChairman, President and CEO(334) 821-9200

FinancialHighlights (unaudited) Quarter ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, (Dollars inthousands, except 2020 2019 2020 2019 per shareamounts)Results of OperationsNet interest $ 6,197 $ 6,742 $ 12,529 $ 13,508 income (a)Less:tax-equivalent 127 145 247 291 adjustment Net interest 6,070 6,597 12,282 13,217 income (GAAP)Noninterest 1,363 885 2,598 2,045 income Total revenue 7,433 7,482 14,880 15,262 Provision for 450 ? 850 ? loan lossesNoninterest 4,959 4,629 9,815 9,240 expenseIncome tax 363 546 753 1,172 expenseNet earnings $ 1,661 $ 2,307 $ 3,462 $ 4,850 Per share data: Basic and diluted $ 0.47 $ 0.64 $ 0.97 $ 1.35 net earnings:Cash dividends $ 0.255 $ 0.25 $ 0.51 $ 0.50 declaredWeighted averageshares outstanding: Basic and 3,566,166 3,577,409 3,566,156 3,595,972 dilutedSharesoutstanding, at 3,566,176 3,571,828 3,566,176 3,571,828 period endBook value $ 29.53 $ 26.34 $ 29.53 $ 26.34 Common stock price: High $ 63.40 $ 39.55 $ 63.40 $ 39.55 Low 36.81 31.06 24.11 30.61 Period-end: 57.09 33.50 57.09 33.50 To earnings 24.29 x 13.19 x 24.29 x 13.19 x ratio To book value 193 % 127 % 193 % 127 %Performance ratios:Return on averageequity 6.34 % 10.00 % 6.78 % 10.65 %(annualized)Return on averageassets 0.74 % 1.12 % 0.80 % 1.18 %(annualized)Dividend payout 54.26 % 39.06 % 52.58 % 37.04 %ratioOther financial data:Net interest 2.95 % 3.50 % 3.09 % 3.52 %margin (a)Effective income 17.93 % 19.14 % 17.86 % 19.46 %tax rateEfficiency ratio 65.60 % 60.69 % 64.88 % 59.41 %(b)Asset Quality: Nonperforming assets: Nonperforming (nonaccrual) $ 678 $ 131 $ 678 $ 131 loans Other real ? 303 ? 303 estate owned Total nonperforming $ 678 $ 434 $ 678 $ 434 assets Net charge-offs $ 9 $ (43) $ (72) $ (61) (recoveries) Allowance forloan losses as a % of: Loans 1.14 % 1.02 % 1.14 % 1.02 % Nonperforming 783 % 3,703 % 783 % 3,703 % loansNonperforming assets as a % of: Loans and other real estate 0.15 % 0.09 % 0.15 % 0.09 % owned Total assets 0.07 % 0.05 % 0.07 % 0.05 %Nonperformingloans as a % of 0.15 % 0.03 % 0.15 % 0.03 %total loansAnnualized netcharge-offs (recoveries) as a % of 0.01 % (0.04) % (0.03) % (0.03) % average loansSelected average balances:Securities $ 291,333 $ 243,784 $ 274,325 $ 241,914 Loans, net of 466,971 473,281 459,091 475,297 unearned incomeTotal assets 893,720 821,706 866,222 824,409 Total deposits 782,381 725,263 646,899 728,881 Totalstockholders' $ 104,820 $ 92,272 $ 102,190 $ 91,110 equitySelected period end balances:Securities $ 302,193 $ 248,813 $ 302,193 $ 248,813 Loans, net of 464,274 476,061 464,274 476,061 unearned incomeAllowance for 5,308 4,851 5,308 4,851 loan lossesTotal assets 942,887 839,178 942,887 839,178 Total deposits 829,810 740,501 829,810 740,501 Totalstockholders' $ 105,299 $ 94,065 $ 105,299 $ 94,065 equity (a) Tax equivalent. See ?Explanation of Certain Unaudited Non-GAAP Financial Measures? and ?Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures (unaudited).? (b) Efficiency ratio is the result of noninterest expense divided by the sum of noninterest income and tax-equivalent net interest income.

Reports Second Quarter Net Earnings/page 5 Reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP Measures (unaudited): Quarter ended June Six months ended June 30, 30,(Dollars in thousands, except per 2020 2019 2020 2019share amounts)Net interest income, as reported $ 6,070 $ 6,597 $ 12,282 $ 13,217(GAAP)Tax-equivalent adjustment 127 145 247 291Net interest income $ 6,197 $ 6,742 $ 12,529 $ 13,508(tax-equivalent)