Net Interest Margin grows to 3.02%
First Farmers and Merchants Corporation (OTC Pink: FFMH), the holding company for First Farmers and Merchants Bank, today announced its results for the first quarter of 2025.
“First Farmers net income rose 30.5% to $4.5 million and net income per share was up 35.3% to $1.11 for the first quarter of 2025 compared with the prior year’s first quarter,” stated Brian K. Williams, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Farmers. “Our continued earnings performance benefited from a 63-basis point increase in net interest margin to 3.02%. Contributing to this net interest margin expansion was a 40% drop in interest expense which boosted net interest income by 19% compared with the first quarter of 2024. Strategic balance sheet initiatives and continued growth in core deposits were major contributors to our lower interest expense compared with last year.
“Our book value per share rose 23.2% to $36.85 at the end of the first quarter. This was the highest level since year-end 2020. We believe continued growth in earnings and book value per share contributed to our stock price rising to $38.25 per share in the open market as of the end of the first quarter of 2025, the highest level since the first quarter of 2020.
“We experienced a modest pickup in loan demand with total loans rising $4.4 million in the first quarter. We see lending activity remaining constrained with current interest rate levels and ongoing uncertainty in the direction of the economy. We are also focused on maintaining our high asset quality and continue to be selective in lending to more volatile sectors of the commercial real estate market. Despite turbulence in the global and national economies, our local economy is dynamic, and our outlook for 2025 earnings growth remains favorable based on our strong balance sheet position and improved net interest margin, even though we expect loan demand to remain soft over the near term.”
Key highlights of First Farmers’ results for the first quarter of 2025 include:
- Net income increased 30.5% to $4.5 million from $3.4 million for the year-earlier quarter. Net income per common share increased 35.3% to $1.11 from $0.82 in the first quarter of 2024. Net income decreased 8.5% from $4.9 million, or $1.20, per common share, reported in the fourth quarter of 2024;
- Adjusted net income, which excludes special items, increased 24.5% to $4.2 million, or $1.04 per common share, compared with $3.4 million, or $0.80 per common share, for the year-earlier quarter. First quarter adjusted net income declined 14.9% from $4.9 million, or $1.21 per common share, reported in the fourth quarter of 2024 (see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section);
- Total loans increased $4.4 million from the fourth quarter of 2024, but declined $14.5 million, or 1.4%, compared to the first quarter of 2024;
- Net interest income increased 19.0% to $12.6 million from $10.6 million for the first quarter of 2024 and was up 4.0% from $12.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2024;
- Provision for credit losses expense increased to $325,000 from $65,000 for the first quarter of 2024 and was up from a provision credit for credit losses of $285,000 for the fourth quarter of 2024;
- Net interest margin improved for the fifth consecutive quarter to 3.02%;
- Average core deposits grew $52.8 million, or 4.2%, year-over-year; and
- Book value per share increased 23.2% to $36.85 from $29.92 in the first quarter of 2024 and increased 8.2% from $34.06 for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Commenting on the first quarter’s results, Jill A. Giles, Chief Financial Officer of First Farmers said, “We continue to benefit from our balance sheet liability mix, which contributed to reduced interest expense and resulted in growth of net interest income for the first quarter of 2025. The stability of our core deposit base has reduced the dependence on more expensive non-core funding sources over the past year, yielding five consecutive quarters of growth in net interest margin. This quarter marked our highest net interest margin since the second quarter of 2020. The growth in net interest income and steady expansion of our net interest margin have propelled the Company’s earnings.
“The Bank’s asset quality continues to be healthy with non-performing loans remaining the same as the sequential quarter at $1.3 million, or 0.13% of total loans. We increased allowance for credit losses to reflect a more cautious posture in protecting asset quality, as our Bank did increase loans rated for closer monitoring in the first quarter of 2025. Additionally, we continue to invest in new team members and processes to build our small business banking and secondary market mortgage lending programs. We remain excited about First Farmers’ future with a well-capitalized position to support future strategic growth initiatives,” concluded Giles.
First Quarter 2025 Results of Operations |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) |
3/31/2025 |
12/31/2024 |
3/31/2024 |
1Q25 vs. 4Q24 |
1Q25 vs. 1Q24 |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Change |
% Change |
Change |
% Change |
||||||||||||
Interest income |
$ |
16,311 |
$ |
16,825 |
$ |
16,781 |
$ |
(514) |
(3.1%) |
$ |
(470) |
(2.8%) |
|||||||
Interest expense |
|
3,679 |
|
4,682 |
|
6,169 |
|
(1,003) |
(21.4%) |
|
(2,490) |
(40.4%) |
|||||||
Net interest income |
$ |
12,632 |
$ |
12,143 |
$ |
10,612 |
$ |
489 |
4.0% |
$ |
2,020 |
19.0% |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Net interest income, FTE |
$ |
12,935 |
$ |
12,370 |
$ |
10,834 |
$ |
565 |
4.6% |
$ |
2,101 |
19.4% |
|||||||
Net interest margin |
|
3.02% |
|
2.82% |
|
2.39% |
+20 bps |
|
+63 bps |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Provision (provision credit) for credit losses |
$ |
325 |
$ |
(285) |
$ |
65 |
$ |
610 |
NM |
$ |
260 |
NM |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Total non-interest income |
$ |
3,481 |
$ |
3,394 |
$ |
3,483 |
$ |
87 |
2.6% |
$ |
(2) |
(0.1%) |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Total non-interest expense |
$ |
10,440 |
$ |
9,982 |
$ |
9,853 |
$ |
458 |
4.6% |
$ |
587 |
6.0% |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Net income for common shareholders |
$ |
4,461 |
$ |
4,875 |
$ |
3,419 |
$ |
(414) |
(8.5%) |
$ |
1,042 |
30.5% |
|||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic |
|
4,034,047 |
|
4,055,843 |
|
4,166,834 |
|
(21,796) |
(0.5%) |
|
(132,787) |
(3.2%) |
|||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted |
|
4,042,108 |
|
4,068,164 |
|
4,177,909 |
|
(26,056) |
(0.6%) |
|
(135,801) |
(3.3%) |
|||||||
Basic earnings per share |
$ |
1.11 |
$ |
1.20 |
$ |
0.82 |
$ |
(0.09) |
(7.5%) |
$ |
0.29 |
35.3% |
|||||||
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
1.10 |
$ |
1.20 |
$ |
0.82 |
$ |
(0.10) |
(8.2%) |
$ |
0.28 |
34.7% |
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
Adjusted net income(1) |
$ |
4,174 |
$ |
4,902 |
$ |
3,352 |
$ |
(728) |
(14.9%) |
$ |
822 |
24.5% |
|||||||
Adjusted basic earnings per share(1) |
$ |
1.04 |
$ |
1.21 |
$ |
0.80 |
$ |
(0.17) |
(14.0%) |
$ |
0.24 |
30.0% |
|||||||
Adjusted diluted earnings per share(1) |
$ |
1.03 |
$ |
1.21 |
$ |
0.80 |
$ |
(0.18) |
(14.9%) |
$ |
0.23 |
28.8% |
|||||||
(1) See Non-GAAP Financial Measures |
|||||||||||||||||||
NM -Not meaningful |
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Net income for the first quarter of 2025 grew $1.0 million, or 30.5%, compared to the year-earlier quarter. The increase in net income was primarily due to growth in net interest income offset in part by an increase in provision expense for credit losses and an increase in total non-interest expense. Growth in net interest income for the first quarter of 2025 was attributable to the reduction in interest expense for deposits and borrowings as the balance sheet liability mix improved compared to the year-earlier quarter. The Company’s net interest margin expanded for the fifth consecutive quarter due to the easing of deposit cost pressures and reduced reliance on non-core funding as compared to the first quarter of 2024. An increase in loans rated for closer monitoring resulted in an increase in provision for credit losses expense for the first quarter of 2025 compared to the year-earlier quarter. Total non-interest expense increased $587,000, or 6.0%, compared to the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefits expense of $298,000 and software support and other computer expenses of $129,000. Non-interest income remained flat compared to the prior-year quarter, while adjusted non-interest income declined by $198,000 due to the decline in transaction-based interchange fee income for the first quarter of 2025.
Net income for the first quarter of 2025 was down from the sequential fourth quarter by $414,000, or 8.5%. The decrease in earnings was due to an increase in provision for credit losses expense and an increase in total non-interest expense, offset in part by an increase in net interest income. The Company recorded $325,000 in provision for credit losses expense in the first quarter of 2025 due to an increase in loans rated for closer monitoring and an increase in unfunded loan commitment balances. The prior quarter included a provision credit of $285,000, driven by a $110,000 principal recovery from a previous loan charge-off coupled with lower loan and unfunded commitment balances during the fourth quarter of 2024. Non-interest expense increased as salaries and employee benefits grew by $521,000 mostly related to annual salary adjustments compared to the sequential quarter. Net interest income increased compared to the sequential quarter as the net interest margin grew by 20 basis points.
Balance Sheet Trends |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
($ in thousands) |
|
3/31/2025 |
|
12/31/2024 |
|
3/31/2024 |
|
1Q25 vs. 4Q24 |
|
1Q25 vs. 1Q24 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
Change |
% Change |
||||||
Total assets |
|
$ |
1,777,078 |
|
$ |
1,765,311 |
|
$ |
1,884,126 |
|
$ |
11,767 |
|
0.7% |
|
$ |
(107,048) |
(5.7%) |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
1,628,736 |
|
|
1,627,638 |
|
|
1,759,901 |
|
|
1,098 |
|
0.1% |
|
|
(131,165) |
(7.5%) |
|
Total shareholders' equity |
|
|
148,342 |
|
|
137,673 |
|
|
124,225 |
|
|
10,669 |
|
7.7% |
|
|
24,117 |
19.4% |
|
Securities |
|
|
609,098 |
|
|
615,233 |
|
|
686,795 |
|
|
(6,135) |
|
(1.0%) |
|
|
(77,697) |
(11.3%) |
|
Loans, net of deferred fees |
|
|
1,003,200 |
|
|
998,818 |
|
|
1,017,677 |
|
|
4,382 |
|
0.4% |
|
|
(14,477) |
(1.4%) |
|
Deposits |
|
|
1,605,898 |
|
|
1,603,621 |
|
|
1,567,083 |
|
|
2,277 |
|
0.1% |
|
|
38,815 |
2.5% |
|
Borrowings |
|
|
- |
|
|
- |
|
|
168,000 |
|
|
- |
|
0.0% |
|
|
(168,000) |
(100.0%) |
|
For the first quarter of 2025, investment securities decreased by $6.1 million from the sequential fourth quarter to $609 million, or 34.3% of total assets, and decreased $77.7 million from $687 million, or 36.5% of total assets, from the first quarter of 2024. Outstanding loan balances grew $4.4 million, or 0.4%, from the sequential fourth quarter to $1.003 billion and declined $14.5 million, or 1.4%, from the first quarter of 2024. Loan growth was modest in the first quarter of 2025 as our Company saw borrowers taking a delayed approach in requesting new loans due to the continuation of uncertainty in the interest rate environment. Total deposits increased $2.3 million, or 0.1%, from the sequential fourth quarter to $1.606 billion, and increased $38.8 million, or 2.5%, from the first quarter of 2024. The increase in deposits compared to the sequential quarter was related to municipal deposit growth of $11.7 million and other commercial deposit growth of $5.4 million, offset in part by a decline in core deposits of $14.8 million. The increase in total deposits compared to the first quarter of 2024 was driven by growth in core deposits of $44.0 million and brokered deposits of $38.0 million, offset in part by decreases of $28.9 million in municipal deposits and $14.1 million in other commercial deposits.
The Company had no outstanding borrowings as of March 31, 2025, and December 31, 2024, respectively. The stability of the Company’s core deposits reduced its dependency on non-core funding in the first quarter of 2025 and fourth quarter of 2024. The Company’s outstanding Federal Reserve Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) borrowings as of March 31, 2024, in the amount of $168 million were paid off in the fourth quarter of 2024.
For the first quarter of 2025, total shareholders’ equity increased by $10.7 million from the sequential fourth quarter to $148.3 million and grew $24.1 million from the first quarter of 2024. The increase in total shareholders’ equity from the fourth quarter of 2024 was primarily driven by net income of $4.5 million and a positive change of $8.0 million in accumulated other comprehensive income, offset in part by dividends paid of $1.1 million and stock repurchases of $717,000. The positive change in accumulated other comprehensive income resulted from a decrease in the unrealized loss adjustment to the available-for-sale securities portfolio that totaled $8 million, net of tax. The improvement in the value of the available-for-sale securities portfolio was driven by a decrease in market interest rates compared to the sequential fourth quarter. The book value per share improved 8.2% from the sequential fourth quarter to $36.85 and increased 23.2% compared to the first quarter of 2024.
Asset Quality |
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|
For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
($ in thousands) |
3/31/2025 |
|
12/31/2024 |
|
3/31/2024 |
|
1Q25 vs. 4Q24 |
|
1Q25 vs. 1Q24 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|||||
Allowance for credit losses to total loans |
|
0.82% |
|
|
0.80% |
|
|
0.77% |
|
+2 bps |
|
|
|
+5 bps |
|
|
||
Provision (provision credit) for credit losses |
$ |
325 |
|
$ |
(285) |
|
$ |
65 |
|
$ |
610 |
|
NM |
|
$ |
260 |
|
NM |
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans, annualized |
|
0.00% |
|
|
(0.01%) |
|
|
0.00% |
|
+1 bps |
|
|
|
0 bps |
|
|
||
Total non-performing loans to total loans |
|
0.13% |
|
|
0.13% |
|
|
0.09% |
|
0 bps |
|
|
|
+4 bps |
|
|
||
Total non-performing assets |
$ |
1,281 |
|
$ |
1,344 |
$ |
945 |
$ |
(63) |
(4.7%) |
$ |
336 |
35.6% |
|||||
NM – Not meaningful |
||||||||||||||||||
Non-performing loans were $1.3 million, or 0.13% of total loans, flat from $1.3 million, or 0.13% of total loans, from the sequential fourth quarter and were up from $945,000, or 0.09% of total loans, from the first quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs to average loans were 0.00% for the first quarter of 2025 compared with net recoveries to average loans of 0.01% for the sequential quarter and net charge-offs of 0.00% for the first quarter of 2024. Provision expense of $325,000 was recorded to the allowance for credit losses during the first quarter of 2025. The increase in provision expense reflected a more cautious stance to protect asset quality as loans rated for closer monitoring increased in the first quarter of 2025. The allowance for credit losses represented 0.82% of total loans outstanding for the first quarter of 2025 compared with 0.80% for the sequential fourth quarter and 0.77% for the first quarter of 2024. The allowance for credit losses for unfunded commitments increased to $545,000, or 0.21% of total unfunded commitments, for the first quarter of 2025 compared with 0.20% for the sequential fourth quarter and decreased from $810,000, or 0.26% of total unfunded commitments, for the first quarter of 2024.
Capital Management Initiatives |
||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) |
3/31/2025 |
|
12/31/2024 |
|
3/31/2024 |
|
1Q25 vs. 4Q24 |
|
1Q25 vs. 1Q24 |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|
Change |
|
% Change |
|||||
Tangible common stockholders' equity to tangible assets |
|
7.87% |
|
|
7.32% |
|
|
6.14% |
|
+55 bps |
|
|
|
+173 bps |
|
|
||
Leverage capital ratio |
|
10.21% |
|
|
9.91% |
|
|
9.16% |
|
+30 bps |
|
|
|
+105 bps |
|
|
||
Tier 1 capital ratio |
|
16.68% |
|
|
16.41% |
|
|
15.39% |
|
+27 bps |
|
|
|
+129 bps |
|
|
||
Total Risk-based capital ratio |
|
17.46% |
|
|
17.17% |
|
|
16.14% |
|
+29 bps |
|
|
|
+132 bps |
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total shares repurchased |
|
20,000 |
|
|
32,500 |
|
|
25,040 |
|
|
(12,500) |
|
(38.5%) |
|
|
(5,040) |
|
(20.1%) |
Average repurchase price per share |
$ |
35.83 |
|
$ |
34.68 |
|
$ |
28.46 |
|
$ |
1.15 |
|
3.3% |
|
$ |
7.37 |
|
25.9% |
First Farmers’ capital ratios improved compared to the sequential quarter and first quarter of 2024. The Bank’s capital ratios remain well-above the regulatory minimum guidelines. During the first quarter of 2025, First Farmers repurchased 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market and in privately negotiated transactions at an average price of $35.83 with prices ranging from $33.00 to $38.00 per share in accordance with the Company’s stock repurchase program. First quarter 2025 stock repurchases declined 38.5% compared to the sequential fourth quarter and were down 20.1% compared to the year-earlier quarter. Authorization to repurchase approximately 180,000 shares remains under the current program, which is set to expire in December 2025, unless extended or otherwise completed.
About First Farmers and Merchants Corporation and First Farmers and Merchants Bank
First Farmers and Merchants Corporation is the holding company for First Farmers and Merchants Bank, a community bank serving the Middle Tennessee area through 22 offices in seven Middle Tennessee counties. As of March 31, 2025, First Farmers reported total assets of approximately $1.8 billion, total shareholders’ equity of approximately $148 million, and administered trust assets of $6.3 billion. For more information about First Farmers, visit us on the Web at www.myfirstfarmers.com under “Investor Relations.”
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” that represent First Farmers’ expectations or beliefs concerning future events and often use words or phrases such as “opportunities,” “prospects,” “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project,” “intends” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements contained herein represent the current expectations, plans or forecast of First Farmers’ and are about matters that are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on them, whether included in this news release or made elsewhere from time to time by First Farmers or on its behalf. First Farmers disclaims any obligation to update such forward-looking statements.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Statements included in this press release include non-GAAP financial measures and should be read along with the accompanying tables, which provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures. First Farmers management uses non-GAAP financial measures, including: (i) adjusted net income and (ii) adjusted basic earnings per share, in its analysis of the Company’s performance. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude the following from net income: securities gains and losses, gain on redemption of bank-owned life insurance, and the income tax effect of adjustments. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide additional useful information that allows readers to evaluate the ongoing performance of the Company.
FIRST FARMERS AND MERCHANTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES PRESENTED IN EARNINGS RELEASE ($ in thousands, except per share data) |
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|
For the three months ended |
||||||||||
|
3/31/2025 |
|
3/31/2024 |
|
12/31/2024 |
||||||
Total non-interest income |
$ |
3,481 |
|
|
$ |
3,483 |
|
|
$ |
3,394 |
|
(Gain) loss on equity securities |
|
- |
|
|
|
(91 |
) |
|
|
36 |
|
Gain on redemption of bank-owned life insurance |
|
(287 |
) |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
Adjusted non-interest income |
$ |
3,194 |
|
|
$ |
3,392 |
|
|
$ |
3,430 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Total non-interest expense |
$ |
10,440 |
|
|
$ |
9,853 |
|
|
$ |
9,982 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Net income as reported |
$ |
4,461 |
|
|
$ |
3,419 |
|
|
$ |
4,875 |
|
Total adjustments, net of tax1 |
|
(287 |
) |
|
|
(67 |
) |
|
|
27 |
|
Adjusted net income |
$ |
4,174 |
|
|
$ |
3,352 |
|
|
$ |
4,902 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Basic earnings per share |
$ |
1.11 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
|
$ |
1.20 |
|
Total adjustments, net of tax1 |
|
(0.07 |
) |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
0.01 |
|
Adjusted basic earnings per share |
$ |
1.04 |
|
|
$ |
0.80 |
|
|
$ |
1.21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
1.10 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
|
$ |
1.20 |
|
Total adjustments, net of tax1 |
|
(0.07 |
) |
|
|
(0.02 |
) |
|
|
0.01 |
|
Adjusted diluted earnings per share |
$ |
1.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.80 |
|
|
$ |
1.21 |
|
(1) The effective tax rate of 26.1% is used to determine net of tax amounts. |
|||||||||||
FIRST FARMERS AND MERCHANTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS |
|||||||||
|
|
|
(unaudited) |
|
|
||||
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
||||||
|
($ in thousands, except per share data) |
|
2025 |
|
|
2024(1) |
|||
ASSETS |
Cash and due from banks |
|
$ |
25,624 |
|
$ |
26,034 |
|
|
Interest-bearing deposits |
|
38,174 |
|
20,493 |
|
||||
Federal funds sold |
|
156 |
|
86 |
|
||||
Total cash and cash equivalents |
|
63,954 |
|
46,613 |
|
||||
Securities: |
|
|
|
||||||
Available-for-sale |
|
581,649 |
|
588,523 |
|
||||
Held-to-maturity (fair market value $24,175 and $23,382) |
|
25,271 |
|
24,532 |
|
||||
|
Equity securities |
|
2,178 |
|
|
2,178 |
|
||
Loans, net of deferred fees |
|
1,003,200 |
|
998,818 |
|
||||
Allowance for credit losses |
|
(8,236 |
) |
(7,952 |
) |
||||
Net loans |
|
994,964 |
|
990,866 |
|
||||
Bank premises and equipment, net |
|
28,854 |
|
29,094 |
|
||||
Bank-owned life insurance |
|
35,626 |
|
36,672 |
|
||||
Goodwill |
|
9,018 |
|
9,018 |
|
||||
|
Deferred tax asset |
|
19,993 |
|
|
22,795 |
|
||
Other assets |
|
15,571 |
|
15,020 |
|
||||
|
TOTAL ASSETS |
|
$ |
1,777,078 |
|
|
$ |
1,765,311 |
|
LIABILITIES |
Deposits: |
|
|
||||||
Noninterest-bearing |
|
$ |
475,455 |
|
$ |
482,398 |
|
||
Interest-bearing |
|
1,130,443 |
|
1,121,223 |
|
||||
Total deposits |
|
1,605,898 |
|
1,603,621 |
|
||||
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
|
22,838 |
|
|
24,017 |
|
||
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
|
1,628,736 |
|
|
1,627,638 |
|
||
SHAREHOLDERS’ |
Common stock - $10 par value per share, 8,000,000 shares |
|
|
|
|||||
EQUITY |
authorized; 4,022,511 and 4,039,445 shares issued |
|
|
|
|||||
|
and outstanding as of the periods presented |
|
40,225 |
|
|
40,394 |
|
||
Retained earnings |
|
155,126 |
|
152,268 |
|
||||
|
Additional paid-in-capital |
|
110 |
|
|
85 |
|
||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
(47,214 |
) |
(55,169 |
) |
||||
Total shareholders’ equity attributable to First Farmers and Merchants Corporation |
148,247 |
137,578 |
|
||||||
Noncontrolling interest - preferred stock of subsidiary |
|
95 |
|
95 |
|
||||
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
148,342 |
|
137,673 |
|
||||
|
|
||||||||
|
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
$ |
1,777,078 |
|
|
$ |
1,765,311 |
|
|
|
|||||||||
(1) Derived from audited financial statements as of December 31, 2024. |
|||||||||
FIRST FARMERS AND MERCHANTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited) |
||||||
For the three months ended March 31, |
||||||
|
($ in thousands, except per share data) |
2025 |
|
2024 |
||
INTEREST AND |
Interest and fees on loans |
$ |
13,477 |
|
$ |
13,890 |
DIVIDEND |
Income on investment securities |
|
||||
INCOME |
Taxable interest |
2,091 |
|
2,167 |
||
Exempt from federal income tax |
430 |
|
433 |
|||
Interest from federal funds sold and other |
313 |
|
291 |
|||
|
Total interest income |
16,311 |
|
16,781 |
||
INTEREST |
Interest on deposits |
3,636 |
|
4,324 |
||
EXPENSE |
Interest on other borrowings |
43 |
|
1,845 |
||
Total interest expense |
3,679 |
|
6,169 |
|||
Net interest income |
12,632 |
|
10,612 |
|||
Provision for credit losses |
325 |
|
65 |
|||
|
Net interest income after provision |
12,307 |
|
10,547 |
||
NON-INTEREST |
Mortgage banking activities |
13 |
|
59 |
||
INCOME |
Wealth management and trust fee income |
1,165 |
|
1,157 |
||
|
Service fees on deposit accounts |
1,534 |
|
1,684 |
||
Investment services fee income |
100 |
|
101 |
|||
Earnings on bank-owned life insurance |
174 |
|
158 |
|||
|
Gain on redemption of bank-owned life insurance |
287 |
|
- |
||
|
Gain on equity securities |
- |
|
91 |
||
Other non-interest income |
208 |
|
233 |
|||
|
Total non-interest income |
3,481 |
|
3,483 |
||
NON-INTEREST |
Salaries and employee benefits |
5,921 |
|
5,623 |
||
EXPENSE |
Net occupancy expense |
635 |
|
599 |
||
Depreciation expense |
403 |
|
406 |
|||
Data processing expense |
618 |
|
563 |
|||
|
Software support and other computer expense |
1,224 |
|
1,095 |
||
Legal and professional fees |
238 |
|
220 |
|||
|
Audit and exam expenses |
190 |
|
187 |
||
|
Advertising and promotions |
241 |
|
200 |
||
FDIC insurance premium expense |
200 |
|
218 |
|||
Other non-interest expense |
770 |
|
742 |
|||
Total non-interest expense |
10,440 |
|
9,853 |
|||
Income before provision for income taxes |
5,348 |
|
4,177 |
|||
|
Provision for income taxes |
887 |
|
758 |
||
Net income before non-controlling interest - dividends on preferred stock of subsidiary |
4,461 |
|
3,419 |
|||
Non-controlling interest - dividends on preferred stock subsidiary |
- |
|
- |
|||
|
Net income for common shareholders |
$ |
4,461 |
|
$ |
3,419 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic |
4,034,047 |
|
4,166,834 |
|||
|
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted |
4,042,108 |
|
4,177,909 |
||
|
Earnings per share |
$ |
1.11 |
|
$ |
0.82 |
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
1.10 |
$ |
0.82 |
||
FIRST FARMERS AND MERCHANTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (unaudited) |
|||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended |
|||||||||||||||||||
($ in thousands, except per share data) |
3/31/2025 |
|
12/31/2024 |
|
9/30/2024 |
|
6/30/2024 |
|
3/31/2024 |
||||||||||
Results of Operations: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Interest income |
$ |
16,311 |
|
|
$ |
16,825 |
|
|
$ |
17,550 |
|
|
$ |
16,975 |
|
|
$ |
16,781 |
|
Interest expense |
3,679 |
|
|
4,682 |
|
|
6,195 |
|
|
6,024 |
|
|
6,169 |
|
|||||
Net interest income |
12,632 |
|
|
12,143 |
|
|
11,355 |
|
|
10,951 |
|
|
10,612 |
|
|||||
Provision (credit) for credit losses |
325 |
|
|
(285 |
) |
|
- |
|
|
60 |
|
|
65 |
|
|||||
Non-interest income |
3,481 |
|
|
3,394 |
|
|
3,428 |
|
|
3,523 |
|
|
3,483 |
|
|||||
Non-interest expense and non-controlling interest – preferred stock of subsidiary |
10,440 |
|
|
9,982 |
|
|
9,974 |
|
|
9,788 |
|
|
9,853 |
|
|||||
Income before income taxes |
5,348 |
|
|
5,840 |
|
|
4,809 |
|
|
4,626 |
|
|
4,177 |
|
|||||
Income taxes |
887 |
|
|
965 |
|
|
858 |
|
|
836 |
|
|
758 |
|
|||||
Net income for common shareholders |
$ |
4,461 |
|
|
$ |
4,875 |
|
|
$ |
3,951 |
|
|
$ |
3,790 |
|
|
$ |
3,419 |
|
Per Share Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Basic earnings per share |
$ |
1.11 |
|
|
$ |
1.20 |
|
|
$ |
0.97 |
|
|
$ |
0.92 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
Diluted earnings per share |
$ |
1.10 |
|
|
$ |
1.20 |
|
|
$ |
0.96 |
|
|
$ |
0.92 |
|
|
$ |
0.82 |
|
Book value per share |
$ |
36.85 |
|
|
$ |
34.06 |
|
|
$ |
35.56 |
|
|
$ |
30.68 |
|
|
$ |
29.92 |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding per quarter - basic |
4,034,047 |
|
|
4,055,843 |
|
|
4,087,043 |
|
|
4,127,442 |
|
|
4,166,834 |
|
|||||
Weighted average shares outstanding per quarter - diluted |
4,042,108 |
|
|
4,068,164 |
|
|
4,099,707 |
|
|
4,140,106 |
|
|
4,177,909 |
|
|||||
Financial Condition Data and Ratios: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total securities |
$ |
609,098 |
|
|
$ |
615,233 |
|
|
$ |
651,808 |
|
|
$ |
662,834 |
|
|
$ |
686,795 |
|
Available-for-sale securities, fair market value |
$ |
581,649 |
|
|
$ |
588,523 |
|
|
$ |
633,734 |
|
|
$ |
644,451 |
|
|
$ |
669,552 |
|
Available-for-sale securities, amortized cost |
$ |
646,319 |
|
|
$ |
663,980 |
|
|
$ |
695,808 |
|
|
$ |
729,602 |
|
|
$ |
755,162 |
|
Loans, net of deferred fees |
$ |
1,003,200 |
|
|
$ |
998,818 |
|
|
$ |
1,031,098 |
|
|
$ |
1,053,814 |
|
|
$ |
1,017,677 |
|
Allowance for credit losses |
$ |
(8,236 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,952 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,049 |
) |
|
$ |
(8,064 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,803 |
) |
Total assets |
$ |
1,777,078 |
|
|
$ |
1,765,311 |
|
|
$ |
1,854,791 |
|
|
$ |
1,854,337 |
|
|
$ |
1,884,126 |
|
Total deposits |
$ |
1,605,898 |
|
|
$ |
1,603,621 |
|
|
$ |
1,603,672 |
|
|
$ |
1,524,077 |
|
|
$ |
1,567,083 |
|
Net interest income, on a fully taxable-equivalent basis |
$ |
12,935 |
|
|
$ |
12,370 |
|
|
$ |
11,612 |
|
|
$ |
11,188 |
|
|
$ |
10,834 |
|
Net interest margin |
3.02 |
% |
|
2.82 |
% |
|
2.55 |
% |
|
2.48 |
% |
|
2.39 |
% |
|||||
Efficiency |
66.74 |
% |
|
61.20 |
% |
|
66.36 |
% |
|
67.37 |
% |
|
69.72 |
% |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Asset Quality Data and Ratios: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Total non-performing assets |
$ |
1,281 |
|
|
$ |
1,344 |
|
|
$ |
852 |
|
|
$ |
863 |
|
|
$ |
945 |
|
Non-performing assets to total assets |
0.07 |
% |
|
0.08 |
% |
|
0.05 |
% |
|
0.05 |
% |
|
0.05 |
% |
|||||
Allowance for credit losses to total loans |
0.82 |
% |
|
0.80 |
% |
|
0.78 |
% |
|
0.77 |
% |
|
0.77 |
% |
|||||
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans (annualized) |
0.00 |
% |
|
(0.01 |
%) |
|
0.01 |
% |
|
0.00 |
% |
|
0.00 |
% |
|||||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250428392918/en/
Contacts
Jill A. Giles
Chief Financial Officer
(931) 380-8284
