FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION: FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS EDITORS
Contact:
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Scott A. Kingsley, President and CEO
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Annette L. Burns, Executive Vice President and CFO
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NBT Bancorp Inc.
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52 South Broad Street
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Norwich, NY 13815
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607-337-6589
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NBT BANCORP INC. ANNOUNCES FULL YEAR NET INCOME AND DECLARES CASH DIVIDEND
NORWICH, NY (January 27, 2025) – NBT Bancorp Inc. (“NBT” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NBTB) reported net income and diluted earnings per share for the three and twelve
months ended December 31, 2024.
Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was $36.0 million, or $0.76 per diluted common share, compared to $30.4 million, or $0.64 per diluted common
share, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, and $38.1 million, or $0.80 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2024. Operating diluted earnings per share(1), a non-GAAP measure was $0.77 for the fourth quarter of
2024, compared to $0.72 for the fourth quarter of 2023 and $0.80 for the third quarter of 2024.
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $140.6 million, or $2.97 per diluted common share, compared to $118.8 million, or $2.65 per diluted common share,
in the prior year.
The Company completed the acquisition of Salisbury Bancorp, Inc. (“Salisbury”) on August 11, 2023, adding 13 banking offices, $1.18 billion in loans and $1.31 billion
in deposits. The comparisons to the full year of 2023 are significantly impacted by the Salisbury acquisition.
CEO Comments
“Three consecutive quarters of growth in net interest income and margin along with continued strong results from our diverse mix of fee businesses drove NBT’s
operating performance in the fourth quarter of 2024.” said NBT President and Chief Executive Officer Scott A. Kingsley. “In addition, we were pleased to receive regulatory approval during the fourth quarter to complete our planned merger with Evans
Bancorp, Inc. Evans shareholders also demonstrated strong support for the partnership with the vote to approve the transaction in December. We continue to expect the merger to close in the second quarter of 2025 in conjunction with the core system
conversion, and team members from NBT and Evans are working closely to plan a smooth transition for the customers and communities we will serve together in the Buffalo and Rochester markets.”
Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
Net Income
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Net income was $36.0 million and diluted earnings per share was $0.76
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Net Interest Income / NIM
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Net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent (“FTE”) basis was $106.7 million, up $4.4 million from the prior quarter(1)
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Net interest margin (“NIM”) on an FTE basis was 3.34%(1), up 7 basis points (“bps”) from the prior quarter
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Included in FTE net interest income was $2.6 million of acquisition-related net accretion, which was consistent with the third quarter of 2024
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Earning asset yields of 4.96% were down 5 bps from the prior quarter
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Total cost of funds of 1.71% was down 14 bps from the prior quarter
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Noninterest Income
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Noninterest income was $42.2 million, an increase of 11.1% from the fourth quarter of 2023, excluding net securities gains (losses)
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Loans and Credit Quality
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Period end total loans of $9.97 billion as of December 31, 2024, up $319.2 million, or 3.3%, from December 31, 2023
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Net charge-offs to average loans was 0.23% annualized
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Nonperforming loans to total loans was 0.52%
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Allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.16%
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Deposits
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Deposits were $11.55 billion as of December 31, 2024, up $577.8 million, or 5.3%, from December 31, 2023
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Total cost of deposits was 1.60% for the fourth quarter of 2024, down 12 bps from the third quarter of 2024
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Capital
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Stockholders’ equity was $1.53 billion as of December 31, 2024
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Tangible book value per share(2) was $23.88 at December 31, 2024
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Tangible equity to assets of 8.42%(1)
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CET1 ratio of 11.93%; Leverage ratio of 10.24%
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Loans
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Period end total loans were $9.97 billion at December 31, 2024, $9.91 billion at September 30, 2024 and $9.65 billion at December 31, 2023.
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Period end total loans increased $319.2 million from December 31, 2023. Total commercial loans increased $322.0 million to $5.30 billion while total consumer loans decreased $2.8
million to $4.67 billion. Excluding the other consumer and residential solar portfolios, which are in a planned run-off status, period end loans increased $478.6 million, or 5.6%.
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Commercial line of credit utilization rate was 21% at December 31, 2024, compared to 22% at September 30, 2024 and 20% at December 31, 2023.
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Deposits
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Total deposits at December 31, 2024 were $11.55 billion, compared to $11.59 billion at September 30, 2024 and $10.97 billion at December 31, 2023. The $577.8 million increase in
deposits from December 31, 2023 was primarily due to higher consumer and commercial deposit balances.
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The loan to deposit ratio was 86.3% at December 31, 2024, compared to 88.0% at December 31, 2023.
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Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin
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Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $106.1 million, an increase of $4.4
million, or 4.4%, from the third quarter of 2024 and an increase of $6.9 million, or 7.0%, from the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase in net interest income from the third quarter of 2024 resulted primarily from a decrease in the cost
of deposits, an increase in average short-term interest-bearing accounts and the interest earned on those balances combined with a more favorable funding mix.
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The NIM on an FTE basis for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 3.34%, an increase of 7 bps from the third quarter of 2024. This increase was driven by an improved funding mix with
lower average balances of short-term borrowings, an increase in the average balance of noninterest-bearing demand deposit accounts and a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing deposits. The NIM on an FTE basis increased 19 bps from the
fourth quarter of 2023 due to higher earning asset yields and lower average balances of short-term borrowings, partially offset by the increase in the cost of interest-bearing deposits.
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Earning asset yields for the three months ended December 31, 2024 decreased 5 bps from the prior quarter to 4.96% and increased 17 bps from the same quarter in the prior year. Loan
yields for the three months ended December 31, 2024 decreased 9 bps from the prior quarter to 5.65% primarily due to the repricing of $2.1 billion in variable rate loans partly offset by loans originating at higher rates than portfolio
yields during the quarter. Earnings asset yields increased 17 bps from the same quarter in the prior year. Average earning assets increased $257.5 million, or 2.1%, from the third quarter of 2024 due to organic loan growth and an increase
in short-term interest-bearing accounts. Average earning assets grew $140.6 million, or 1.1%, from the fourth quarter of 2023 due to organic loan growth partially offset by lower average balances of short-term interest-bearing accounts and
securities.
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Total cost of deposits, including noninterest bearing deposits, was 1.60% for the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of 12 bps from the prior quarter and an increase of 9 bps from
the same period in the prior year.
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Total cost of funds for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was 1.71%, a decrease of 14 bps from the prior quarter and a decrease of 1 bp from the fourth quarter of 2023.
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Asset Quality and Allowance for Loan Losses
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Net charge-offs to total average loans for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 23 bps compared to 16 bps in the prior quarter. The increase in net charge-offs from the prior quarter was
driven by two commercial real estate relationships, of which $1.7 million was previously specifically reserved for in the second quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs for the portfolios in a planned run-off status represented the majority of
total net charge-offs for the full year.
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Nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.38% at December 31, 2024, compared to 0.27% at September 30, 2024 and 0.28% at December 31, 2023. The increase in nonperforming assets
was attributable to a commercial real estate relationship that was placed into a nonaccrual status in the fourth quarter of 2024. The relationship is being actively managed and was written-down to estimated fair value in the fourth quarter
of 2024, and as such, no specific reserve has been established.
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Provision expense for the three months ended December 31, 2024 was $2.2 million, compared to $2.9 million for the third quarter of 2024. The decrease in provision expense from the
prior quarter was primarily due to the run-off of the other consumer and residential solar portfolios partially offset by a higher level of net charge-offs.
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The allowance for loan losses was $116.0 million, or 1.16% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, compared to $119.5 million, or 1.21% of total loans, at September 30, 2024 and
$114.4 million, or 1.19% of total loans, at December 31, 2023.
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The reserve for unfunded loan commitments was $4.4 million at December 31, 2024, compared to $4.6 million at September 30, 2024 and $5.1 million at December 31, 2023.
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Noninterest Income
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Total noninterest income, excluding securities gains (losses), was $42.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, down $3.1 million, or 6.8%, from the seasonally high
third quarter of 2024, and up $4.2 million, or 11.1%, from the fourth quarter of 2023.
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Retirement plan administration fees were down $1.7 million from the prior quarter and increased $1.7 million from the fourth quarter of 2023. The decrease from the prior quarter,
as expected, was due to higher seasonal activity-based fees in the third quarter. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2023 was driven by organic growth and higher market levels.
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Wealth management fees were consistent with the prior quarter and increased $1.7 million from the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase from the fourth quarter of 2023 was driven
by market performance and growth in new customer accounts.
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Insurance revenues decreased $1.0 million from the third quarter, which typically has comparatively higher levels of policy renewals than the fourth quarter.
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Noninterest Expense
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Total noninterest expense was $100.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $95.7 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $92.8 million for the fourth quarter of
2023. Total noninterest expense increased 4.8% compared to the previous quarter and increased 13.7% from the fourth quarter of 2023, excluding $1.0 million of acquisition expenses in the fourth quarter of 2024, $0.5 million in the third
quarter of 2024 and $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, respectively, and the $4.8 million impairment of a minority interest equity investment in the fourth quarter of 2023.
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Salaries and benefits increased 3.5% from the prior quarter driven by higher medical costs and an increase in other benefits including higher levels of incentive compensation. The
increase from the fourth quarter of 2023 was driven by merit pay increases, higher levels of incentive compensation and higher medical and other benefit costs.
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Occupancy costs were consistent with the prior quarter and increased from the fourth quarter of 2023 driven by additional expenses including seasonal maintenance, rent and
equipment expense.
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Other expense increased $2.5 million from the prior quarter and $0.4 million from the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase from the previous quarter was driven by increases in
office supplies and postage, advertising and other expenses.
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Income Taxes
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The full year effective tax rate was 21.6% for 2024 down from 22.6% for the full year of 2023.
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Capital
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Tangible common equity to tangible assets(1) was 8.42% at December 31, 2024. Tangible book value per share(2) was $23.88 at December 31, 2024, $23.83 at
September 30, 2024 and $21.72 at December 31, 2023.
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Stockholders’ equity increased $100.5 million from December 31, 2023 driven by net income generation of $140.6 million and an $18.8 million decrease in accumulated other
comprehensive loss reflecting the change in the fair value of securities available for sale, partially offset by dividends declared of $62.3 million.
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As of December 31, 2024, CET1 capital ratio of 11.93%, leverage ratio of 10.24% and total risk-based capital ratio of 15.03%.
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Dividend
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The Board of Directors approved a first-quarter cash dividend of $0.34 per share at a meeting held earlier today. The dividend represents a $0.02 per share, or 6.3%, increase over
the dividend paid in the first quarter of 2024. The dividend will be paid on March 17, 2025 to stockholders of record as of March 3, 2025.
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Stock Repurchase
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The Company purchased 7,600 shares of its common stock during 2024 at an average price of $33.02 per share under its previously announced share repurchase program. The Company may
repurchase shares of its common stock from time to time to mitigate the potential dilutive effects of stock-based incentive plans and other potential uses of common stock for corporate purposes. As of December 31, 2024, there were 1,992,400
shares available for repurchase under this plan.
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Evans Bancorp, Inc. Merger
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In December 2024, NBT announced that it had received the regulatory approval and waiver from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
necessary to complete its acquisition of Evans Bancorp, Inc. (“Evans”). Also in December 2024, the shareholders of Evans voted to approve the merger. Evans reported over 75% of the issued and outstanding shares of Evans were represented at
a special shareholder meeting and over 96% of the votes cast were voted to approve the merger. NBT and Evans anticipate closing the transaction in second quarter of 2025 in conjunction with the core system conversion, pending customary
closing conditions. Evans had assets of $2.28 billion, deposits of $1.90 billion and net loans of $1.76 billion as of September 30, 2024.
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Conference Call and Webcast
The Company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern) Tuesday, January 28, 2025, to review the fourth quarter 2024 financial results. The audio webcast link,
along with the corresponding presentation slides, will be available on the Company’s Event Calendar page at www.nbtbancorp.com/bn/presentations-events.html#events and
will be archived for twelve months.
Corporate Overview
NBT Bancorp Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Norwich, NY, with total assets of $13.79 billion at December 31, 2024. The Company primarily operates
through NBT Bank, N.A., a full-service community bank, and through two financial services companies. NBT Bank, N.A. has 155 banking locations in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut. EPIC Retirement
Plan Services, based in Rochester, NY, is a national benefits administration firm. NBT Insurance Agency, LLC, based in Norwich, NY, is a full-service insurance agency. More information about NBT and its divisions is available online at: www.nbtbancorp.com, www.nbtbank.com, www.epicrps.com and www.nbtbank.com/Insurance.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be
identified by the use of phrases such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “will,” “can,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may,” or other similar terms. There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s
control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include,
among others, the following possibilities: (1) local, regional, national and international economic conditions, including actual or potential stress in the banking industry, and the impact they may have on the Company and its customers, and the
Company’s assessment of that impact; (2) changes in the level of nonperforming assets and charge-offs; (3) changes in estimates of future reserve requirements based upon the periodic review thereof under relevant regulatory and accounting
requirements; (4) the effects of and changes in trade and monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including the interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board (“FRB”); (5) inflation, interest rate, securities market and monetary fluctuations;
(6) political instability; (7) acts of war, including international military conflicts, or terrorism; (8) the timely development and acceptance of new products and services and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users;
(9) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits; (10) changes in the financial performance and/or condition of the Company’s borrowers; (11) technological changes; (12) acquisition and integration of acquired businesses; (13) the
possibility that NBT and Evans may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the merger within the expected timeframes or at all or to successfully integrate Evans operations and those of NBT; (14) the ability to
increase market share and control expenses; (15) changes in the competitive environment among financial holding companies; (16) the effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and
insurance) with which the Company and its subsidiaries must comply, including those under the Dodd-Frank Act, and the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018; (17) the effect of changes in accounting policies and
practices, as may be adopted by the regulatory agencies, as well as the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other accounting standard setters; (18) changes in the Company’s organization,
compensation and benefit plans; (19) the costs and effects of legal and regulatory developments, including the resolution of legal proceedings or regulatory or other governmental inquiries, and the results of regulatory examinations or reviews;
(20) greater than expected costs or difficulties related to the integration of new products and lines of business; and (21) the Company’s success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items.
The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and advises readers
that various factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and other factors discussed in the Company’s annual and quarterly reports previously filed with the SEC, could affect the Company’s financial performance and could cause the
Company’s actual results or circumstances for future periods to differ materially from those anticipated or projected.
Unless required by law, the Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligations to, publicly release any revisions that may be made
to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
Non-GAAP Measures
This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
(“GAAP”). Where non-GAAP disclosures are used in this press release, the comparable GAAP measure, as well as a reconciliation to the comparable GAAP measure, is provided in the accompanying tables. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures
provide useful information that is important to an understanding of the results of the Company’s core business as well as provide information standard in the financial institution industry. Non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute
for financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP and investors should consider the Company’s performance and financial condition as reported under GAAP and all other relevant information when assessing the performance or financial
condition of the Company. Amounts previously reported in the consolidated financial statements are reclassified whenever necessary to conform to current period presentation.