NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --  Valley National Bancorp (NASDAQ:VLY), the holding company for Valley National Bank, today reported net income for the fourth quarter 2023 of $71.6 million, or $0.13 per diluted common share, as compared to the fourth quarter 2022 net income of $177.6 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share, and net income of $141.3 million, or $0.27 per diluted common share, for the third quarter 2023. Excluding all non-core items, our adjusted net income (a non-GAAP measure) was $116.3 million, or $0.22 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter 2023, $182.9 million, or $0.35 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter 2022, and $136.4 million, or $0.26 per diluted common share, for the third quarter 2023. See further details below, including a reconciliation of our adjusted net income in the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables.

Key Financial Highlights for the Fourth Quarter 2023:

• Loan Portfolio: Loan growth in most categories remained at modest levels during the fourth quarter 2023 due to the ongoing impact of elevated market interest rates and other factors. Total loans increased $112.8 million, or 1.0 percent on an annualized basis, to $50.2 billion at December 31, 2023 from September 30, 2023, mainly as a result of well-controlled organic loan growth in the commercial real estate and consumer loan categories. Annualized loan growth totaled 7.0 percent for the year ended December 31, 2023. See the "Loans" section below for more details.
• Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses for Loans: The allowance for credit losses for loans totaled $465.6 million and $462.3 million at December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively, representing 0.93 percent and 0.92 percent of total loans at each respective date. During the fourth quarter 2023, the provision for credit losses for loans was $20.7 million as compared to $9.1 million and $7.3 million for the third quarter 2023 and fourth quarter 2022, respectively. See the "Credit Quality" section below for more details.
• Credit Quality: Net loan charge-offs totaled $17.5 million for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to $5.5 million and $22.4 million for the third quarter 2023 and fourth quarter 2022, respectively. The loan charge-offs in the fourth quarter 2023 were primarily due to partial charge-offs of certain non-performing loan relationships in the commercial loan categories. Total accruing past due loans increased $12.1 million to $91.6 million, or 0.18 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2023 as compared to $79.5 million, or 0.16 percent of total loans, at September 30, 2023. Non-accrual loans represented 0.58 percent and 0.52 percent of total loans at December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively. See the "Credit Quality" section below for more details.
• Deposits: Total deposits decreased $642.5 million to $49.2 billion at December 31, 2023 as compared to $49.9 billion at September 30, 2023. During the fourth quarter 2023, a $2.4 billion reduction in indirect customer time deposits was partially offset by $1.7 billion of direct customer deposit inflows across the franchise. See the "Deposits" section below for more details.
• Net Interest Income and Margin: Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis of $398.6 million for the fourth quarter 2023 decreased $15.1 million and $68.7 million as compared to the third quarter 2023 and fourth quarter 2022, respectively. Our net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis decreased by 9 basis points to 2.82 percent in the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to 2.91 percent for the third quarter 2023. The decline in both net interest income and margin as compared to the linked third quarter reflects the ongoing repricing of our interest bearing deposits, net of a 7 basis point increase in the yield of average interest earnings assets for the fourth quarter 2023. See the "Net Interest Income and Margin" section below for more details.
• Non-Interest Income: Non-interest income decreased $6.0 million to $52.7 million for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to the third quarter 2023 mainly due to a $6.8 million decrease in net gains on sales of assets (primarily caused by the net gain on sale of non-branch offices during the third quarter 2023).
• Non-Interest Expense: Non-interest expense increased $73.3 million to $340.4 million for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to the third quarter 2023 largely due to non-core charges of $50.3 million and $10.0 million related to the FDIC special assessment and the termination of certain technology contracts, respectively, during the fourth quarter 2023. Professional and legal fees increased $8.1 million as compared to the third quarter 2023 due, in part, to elevated consulting expenses related to our new core banking system implemented in early October 2023, as well as additional non-core legal reserves and settlement charges totaling a combined $3.5 million during the fourth quarter 2023.
• Income Tax Expense: Our effective tax rate was 19.6 percent for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to 27.5 percent for the third quarter 2023. The decrease was mostly due to an increase in tax credits caused by additional tax credit investments during the fourth quarter 2023.
• Efficiency Ratio: Our efficiency ratio was 60.70 percent for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to 56.72 percent and 49.30 percent for the third quarter 2023 and fourth quarter 2022, 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 0.47 percent, 4.31 percent, and 6.21 percent for the fourth quarter 2023, respectively. Annualized ROA, ROE, and tangible ROE, adjusted for non-core items, were 0.76 percent, 7.01 percent, and 10.10 percent for the fourth quarter 2023, respectively. See the "Consolidated Financial Highlights" tables below for additional information regarding our non-GAAP measures.

In January 2024, we entered an agreement to sell our commercial premium finance lending business and a significant portion of its outstanding loan portfolio. This line of business represented $274.7 million, or 0.55 percent of our total loans outstanding at December 31, 2023. Actual loans to be sold as part of this transaction will be identified shortly before the close date. Loans retained from this line of business are expected to mostly run-off at their normal maturity dates over the next 12 months. The pending transaction is expected to close during the first quarter 2024 and is not anticipated to be material to our operations or financial statements.

Ira Robbins, CEO, commented, "The year of 2023 presented significant challenges for most of the banking industry and Valley. That said, I am pleased with our ability to respond to the challenges early in the year, and find opportunities to enhance our funding and capital position as the year progressed. This, along with our asset quality, is a testament to our dedicated associates and diversified business model."

Mr. Robbins continued, "As we look forward to 2024, we will continue our efforts to build the value of our franchise with a focus on our key strategic priorities, including further diversifying our loan portfolio, enhancing our core funding base, and lastly improving our non-interest income sources. We believe that these initiatives, and a continued emphasis on providing premier relationship banking services, will further differentiate Valley as a leading regional bank."

Net Interest Income and Margin

Net interest income on a tax equivalent basis totaling $398.6 million for the fourth quarter 2023 decreased $15.1 million and $68.7 million as compared to the third quarter 2023 and fourth quarter 2022, respectively. The decrease as compared to the third quarter 2023 was mainly due to increased interest rates on most interest bearing deposit products, partially offset by higher loan yields and a decline in average time deposit balances. As a result of the higher cost of deposits, total interest expense increased $20.3 million to $420.9 million for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to the third quarter 2023. Interest income on a tax equivalent basis increased $5.2 million to $819.5 million for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to the third quarter 2023. The increase in the fourth quarter 2023 was mostly due to higher yields on both new originations and adjustable rate loans in our portfolio, as well as higher yields on investments, partially offset by a decline in average interest bearing deposits with banks as overnight excess cash liquidity was reduced as compared to the third quarter 2023.

Net interest margin on a tax equivalent basis of 2.82 percent for the fourth quarter 2023 decreased 9 basis points and 75 basis points from 2.91 percent and 3.57 percent, respectively, for the third quarter 2023 and fourth quarter 2022. The decrease as compared to the third quarter 2023 was largely driven by higher interest rates on interest bearing deposits, partially offset by an increase in the yield on average interest earning assets. Our cost of total average deposits was 3.13 percent for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to 2.94 percent for the third quarter 2023. The overall cost of average interest-bearing liabilities increased by 21 basis points to 4.13 percent for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to the linked third quarter 2023 primarily driven by the continued rise in market interest rates on deposits. The yield on average interest earning assets increased by 7 basis points to 5.80 basis points on a linked quarter basis largely due to the increased yield of the loan portfolio. The yield on average loans increased to 6.10 percent for the fourth quarter 2023 from 6.03 percent for the third 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 modestly increased to approximately $112.8 million to $50.2 billion at December 31, 2023 from September 30, 2023 mainly due to well-controlled organic loan growth in the commercial real estate and consumer loan categories. Total commercial real estate (including construction) loans increased $95.7 million or 1.2 percent on an annualized basis during the fourth quarter 2023. Automobile loans increased by $34.4 million, or 8.7 percent on an annualized basis during the fourth quarter 2023 partly due to an uptick in demand for commercial vehicle financing. At December 31, 2023, the residential mortgage loan portfolio totaled $5.6 billion and remained relatively unchanged as compared to September 30, 2023. During the fourth quarter 2023, we sold $49.9 million of residential mortgage loans originated for sale as compared to $80.8 million in the third quarter 2023.

Deposits. Total deposits decreased $642.5 million to approximately $49.2 billion at December 31, 2023 from September 30, 2023 mainly due to a decline of $1.9 billion in time deposits, partially offset by a $1.4 billion increase in savings, NOW and money market deposits. The decrease in time deposits was largely due to maturities of indirect customer time deposits, which were partially offset by the origination of new direct time deposits. The increase in savings, NOW and money market deposits was mostly broad-based, reflecting strong customer inflows from both our physical branch and online delivery channels, as well as our niche deposit businesses. Non-interest bearing balances remained relatively stable as compared to September 30, 2023, as outflows slowed significantly during the fourth quarter 2023. Non-interest bearing deposits; savings, NOW, and money market deposits; and time deposits represented approximately 23 percent, 50 percent and 27 percent of total deposits as of December 31, 2023, respectively, as compared to 24 percent, 46 percent and 30 percent of total deposits as of September 30, 2023, respectively.

Other Borrowings. Short-term borrowings increased $828.0 million to approximately $917.8 million at December 31, 2023 as compared to September 30, 2023 mainly due to greater utilization of FHLB advances as part of our liquidity management strategies as of December 31, 2023 and a corresponding decline in indirect customer time deposits (see the "Deposits" section above). Long-term borrowings totaled $2.3 billion at December 31, 2023 and remained relatively unchanged as compared to September 30, 2023.

Credit Quality

Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). Total NPAs, consisting of non-accrual loans, other real estate owned (OREO) and other repossessed assets increased $33.1 million to $293.4 million at December 31, 2023 compared to $260.3 million at September 30, 2023 largely due to higher non-accrual loan balances within commercial loans categories. Non-accrual commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans increased $16.4 million and $12.3 million, respectively, as compared to September 30, 2023. These increases were mostly driven by a few new non-performing loan relationships, partially offset by full repayments of two non-accrual commercial real estate loans totaling $12.7 million during the fourth quarter 2023. Non-accrual loans represented 0.58 percent of total loans at December 31, 2023 as compared to 0.52 percent of total loans at September 30, 2023. Within non-accrual commercial real estate loans at December 31, 2023, one loan totaling $9.1 million, net of partial charge-offs of $1.5 million during the fourth quarter 2023, was paid off in early January 2024.

Accruing Past Due Loans. Total accruing past due loans (i.e., loans past due 30 days or more and still accruing interest) increased $12.1 million to $91.6 million, or 0.18 percent of total loans, at December 31, 2023 as compared to $79.5 million, or 0.16 percent of total loans, at September 30, 2023. Loans 30 to 59 days past due increased $11.8 million to $59.2 million at December 31, 2023 as compared to September 30, 2023 largely due to higher residential mortgage delinquencies, partially offset by declines in commercial real estate and commercial and industrial loans within this early stage delinquency category. Loans 90 days or more past due totaled $13.1 million at December 31, 2023 as compared to $12.4 million at September 30, 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 December 31, 2023, September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022:

Our loan portfolio, totaling $50.2 billion at December 31, 2023, had net loan charge-offs totaling $17.5 million for the fourth quarter 2023 as compared to $5.5 million and $22.4 million for the third quarter 2023 and the fourth quarter 2022, respectively. Gross charge-offs totaled $22.6 million for the fourth quarter 2023 and largely consisted of partial loan charge-offs in the commercial loan categories, including approximately $4.7 million of gross loan charge-offs related to our premium finance lending business expected to be sold during the first quarter 2024.

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 0.93 percent at December 31, 2023, 0.92 percent at September 30, 2023 and 1.03 percent at December 31, 2022. During the fourth quarter 2023, the provision for credit losses for loans totaled $20.7 million as compared to $9.1 million for the third quarter 2023 and $7.3 million for the fourth quarter 2022. The provision for credit losses for the fourth quarter 2023 reflects, among other factors, an increase in quantitative reserves largely related to classified loans within the commercial portfolios and higher specific reserves associated with collateral dependent loans, partially offset by lower qualitative and economic forecast reserves at December 31, 2023.

Capital Adequacy

Valley's regulatory capital ratios continue to reflect its well-capitalized position. Valley's total risk-based capital, Tier 1 capital, common equity Tier 1 capital, and Tier 1 leverage capital ratios were 11.76 percent, 9.72 percent, 9.29 percent, and 8.16 percent, respectively, at December 31, 2023.

Investor Conference Call

Valley will host a conference call with investors and the financial community at 11:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, today to discuss the fourth quarter 2023 earnings and related matters. Interested parties should pre-register 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 February 29, 2024.

About Valley

As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley National Bank is a regional bank with approximately $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;
• risks associated with our acquisition of Bank Leumi Le-Israel Corporation (Bank Leumi USA), including (i) the inability to realize expected cost savings and synergies from the acquisition in the amounts or timeframe anticipated and (ii) greater than expected costs or difficulties relating to integration as part of Valley's new core banking system implemented in the fourth quarter 2023;
• 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;
• 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 the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in Item 1A of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023.

The financial results and disclosures reported in this release are preliminary. Final 2023 financial results and other disclosures will be reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and may differ materially from the results and disclosures in this document due to, among other things, the completion of final review procedures, the occurrence of subsequent events, or the discovery of additional information.

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.

-Tables to Follow-

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

NOTES TO SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Non-GAAP Reconciliations to GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP Reconciliations to GAAP Financial Measures (Continued)

(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 financial 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.