Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: BWB) (the Company), the parent company of Bridgewater Bank (the Bank), today announced net income of $11.5 million for the third quarter of 2021, a 4.7% increase over net income of $11.0 million for the second quarter of 2021, and a 60.4% increase over net income of $7.2 million for the third quarter of 2020. Net income per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2021 was $0.40, a 4.8% increase compared to $0.38 per diluted common share for the second quarter of 2021, and a 60.8% increase, compared to $0.25 per diluted common share for the same period in 2020.

“Bridgewater’s third consecutive quarter of record net income was highlighted by a continuation of our robust organic loan growth, as well as two capital raising transactions to support our ongoing growth plans,” said Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, Jerry Baack. “Driven by expanded lending teams, strong brand penetration and M&A-related market disruption, we are generating consistent loan growth by providing our clients with our signature high-touch and responsive level of service. As a result, we have been able to drive continued revenue growth and maintain an adjusted efficiency ratio in the low 40% range, even as we make incremental investments in the business to support our broader growth strategy. With superb asset quality trends and successful subordinated debt and preferred stock issuances during the third quarter, we are well positioned to continue our unique growth story and drive shareholder value going forward.”

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

Third Quarter 2021 Highlights

• Diluted earnings per common share were $0.40 for the third quarter of 2021, compared to $0.38 per common share for the second quarter of 2021. Adjusted diluted earnings per common share, a non-GAAP financial measure, were $0.41 for the third quarter of 2021, excluding a $582,000 loss, or $0.01 per common share, on the extinguishment of subordinated debt from the partial early redemption of $11.3 million of subordinated debentures issued in July 2017.

• Annualized return on average assets (ROA) and annualized return on average shareholders’ equity (ROE) for the third quarter of 2021 were 1.37% and 13.81%, compared to ROA and ROE of 1.43% and 15.40%, respectively, for the second quarter of 2021. Annualized return on average tangible common equity, a non-GAAP financial measure, was 15.47% for the third quarter of 2021, compared to 15.58% for the second quarter of 2021.

• Pre-provision net revenue (PPNR), a non-GAAP financial measure, was $17.5 million for the third quarter of 2021, an increase of 10.3%, compared to $15.9 million for the second quarter of 2021. PPNR ROA, a non-GAAP financial measure, was 2.09% for the third quarter of 2021, compared to 2.07% for the second quarter of 2021.

• Gross loans increased $117.8 million in the third quarter of 2021, or 18.0% annualized, compared to the second quarter of 2021. Gross loans, excluding Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, increased $162.7 million in the third quarter of 2021, or 25.9% annualized, compared to the second quarter of 2021.

• Deposits increased $133.3 million in the third quarter of 2021, or 19.4% annualized, compared to the second quarter of 2021.

• Net interest margin (on a fully tax-equivalent basis) was 3.54% for the third quarter of 2021, compared to 3.52% in the second quarter of 2021.

• The adjusted efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes the impact of certain non-routine income and expenses from noninterest expense, was 41.5% for the third quarter of 2021, compared to 41.5% for the second quarter of 2021.

• A loan loss provision of $1.3 million was recorded in the third quarter of 2021 to support strong organic loan growth. The allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.43% at September 30, 2021, compared to 1.45% at June 30, 2021. The allowance for loan losses to total loans, excluding PPP loans, was 1.46% at September 30, 2021, compared to 1.50% at June 30, 2021.

• Annualized net loan charge-offs (recoveries) as a percentage of average loans were 0.00% for the third quarter of 2021, compared to 0.00% for the second quarter of 2021.

• Tangible book value per share, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased 3.9%, or $0.40, to $10.62 at September 30, 2021, compared to $10.22 at June 30, 2021.

   

Key Financial Measures

Selected Financial Data

Income Statement

Net Interest Income

Net interest income was $28.7 million for the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $2.4 million, or 9.1%, from $26.3 million in the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of $7.0 million, or 32.3%, from $21.7 million in the third quarter of 2020. The linked-quarter and year-over-year increases in net interest income were primarily due to robust growth in average interest earning assets, lower rates paid on deposits, and the recognition of PPP loan origination fees, offset partially by declining yields on loans. Average interest earning assets were $3.23 billion for the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $214.9 million, or 7.1%, from $3.02 billion for the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of $578.4 million, or 21.8%, from $2.66 billion for the third quarter of 2020. The linked-quarter increase in average interest earning assets was primarily due to increased cash balances and continued strong organic growth in the loan portfolio, offset partially by the payoff of PPP loans. The year-over-year increase in average interest earning assets was primarily due to increased cash balances, continued purchases of investment securities, and strong organic growth in the loan portfolio, offset partially by the payoff of PPP loans.

Net interest margin (on a fully tax-equivalent basis) for the third quarter of 2021 was 3.54%, a 2 basis point increase from 3.52% in the second quarter of 2021, and a 26 basis point increase from 3.28% in the third quarter of 2020. Core net interest margin (on a fully tax-equivalent basis), a non-GAAP financial measure which excludes the impact of loan fees and PPP balances, interest, and fees, for the third quarter of 2021 was 3.22%, a 9 basis point decline from 3.31% in the second quarter of 2021, and an 8 basis point increase from 3.14% in the third quarter of 2020. Even though the capital raises during the quarter increased capital levels to support future growth, it is worth noting the net proceeds in the near-term compounded excess liquidity and negatively affected the net interest margin by 6 basis points.

While the origination volume of PPP loans earning 1.00% has negatively impacted net interest margin, the recognition of fees associated with the originations has benefited net interest margin for each of the past four quarters. The SBA has been forgiving PPP loans, which has accelerated the recognition of PPP fees starting in the fourth quarter of 2020 and continuing into the third quarter of 2021. The Company recognized $1.6 million of PPP origination fees during the third quarter of 2021, compared to $1.4 million during the second quarter of 2021. The elevated fee recognition is illustrated in the 9.15% PPP loan yield for the third quarter of 2021, compared to 4.75% for the second quarter of 2021.

The following table summarizes PPP loan originations and net origination fees as of September 30, 2021:

Interest income was $33.5 million for the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $2.4 million, or 7.6%, from $31.1 million in the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of $5.0 million, or 17.6%, from $28.5 million in the third quarter of 2020. The yield on interest earning assets (on a fully tax-equivalent basis) was 4.14% in the third quarter of 2021, compared to 4.17% in the second quarter of 2021, and 4.30% in the third quarter of 2020. The linked-quarter decrease in the yield on interest earning assets was primarily due to excess cash balances and the historically low interest rate environment resulting in a lower core loan yield, offset partially by $1.6 million of PPP loan origination fees. The year-over-year decline in the yield on interest earning assets was primarily due to excess cash balances and the historically low interest rate environment resulting in lower loan and security yields.

Loan interest income and loan fees remain the primary contributing factors to the changes in yield on interest earning assets. The aggregate loan yield, excluding PPP loans, decreased to 4.51% in the third quarter of 2021, which was 3 basis points lower than 4.54% in the second quarter of 2021, and 42 basis points lower than 4.93% in the third quarter of 2020. While loan fees have maintained a relatively stable contribution to the aggregate loan yield, the historically low yield curve has resulted in a declining core yield on loans in comparison to both prior periods.

A summary of interest and fees recognized on loans, excluding PPP loans, for the periods indicated is as follows:

Interest expense was $4.8 million for the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of $15,000, or 0.3%, from $4.9 million in the second quarter of 2021, and a decrease of $2.0 million, or 28.9%, from $6.8 million in the third quarter of 2020. The cost of interest bearing liabilities declined 8 basis points on a linked-quarter basis from 0.96% in the second quarter of 2021 to 0.88% in the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower rates paid on deposits, offset partially by additional subordinated debentures. On a year-over-year basis, the cost of interest bearing liabilities decreased 62 basis points from 1.50% in the third quarter of 2020 to 0.88% in the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to lower rates paid on deposits, the payoff of the Company’s notes payable, and the early extinguishment of $94.0 million of longer term FHLB advances, offset partially by strong growth of interest bearing deposits and additional subordinated debentures.

Interest expense on deposits was $3.4 million for the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of $96,000, or 2.7%, from $3.5 million in the second quarter of 2021, and a decrease of $1.4 million, or 29.4%, from $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2020. The cost of total deposits declined 6 basis points on a linked-quarter basis from 0.54% in the second quarter of 2021, and declined 39 basis points on a year-over-year basis from 0.87% in the third quarter of 2020, to 0.48% in the third quarter of 2021, primarily due to deposit rate cuts consistent with a lower rate environment and the continued downward repricing of time deposits.

A summary of the Company’s average balances, interest yields and rates, and net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2021, June 30, 2021, and September 30, 2020 is as follows:

Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses was $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of $300,000 from $1.6 million for the second quarter of 2021, and a decrease of $2.5 million from $3.8 million for the third quarter of 2020. The provision recorded in the third quarter of 2021 was attributable to growth of the loan portfolio. The allowance for loan losses to total loans was 1.43% at September 30, 2021, compared to 1.45% at June 30, 2021, and 1.39% at September 30, 2020. The allowance for loan losses to total loans, excluding PPP loans, was 1.46% at September 30, 2021, compared to 1.50% at June 30, 2021, and 1.51% at September 30, 2020.

As an emerging growth company, the Company is not subject to Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses of Financial Instruments,“ or CECL, until January 1, 2023.

The following table presents the activity in the Company’s allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income was $1.4 million for the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of $193,000 from $1.6 million for the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of $253,000 from $1.2 million for the third quarter of 2020. The linked-quarter decrease was primarily due to decreased gains on sales of securities, offset partially by an increase in letter of credit fees. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to increased letter of credit fees and bank-owned life insurance income.

The following table presents the major components of noninterest income for the periods indicated:

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $13.2 million for the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $1.8 million from $11.5 million for the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of $3.6 million from $9.7 million for the third quarter of 2020. The increase in both periods was primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits, professional and consulting fees, marketing and advertising, and $582,000 of prepayment fees associated with a partial early redemption of $11.3 million of subordinated debentures issued in July 2017. The linked-quarter increase in salaries and employee benefits reflects both annual merit increases and a full quarter of salaries expense related to the significant net FTE growth experienced during the second quarter of 2021.

The following table presents the major components of noninterest expense for the periods indicated:

The Company continues to make hires, reaching 219 full-time equivalent employees at September 30, 2021, compared to 214 employees at June 30, 2021, and 180 employees at September 30, 2020.

The efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP financial measure, was 43.9% for the third quarter of 2021, compared to 42.0% for the second quarter of 2021, and 42.3% for the third quarter of 2020. Excluding the impact of certain non-routine income and expenses, the adjusted efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP financial measure, was 41.5% for the third quarter of 2021, 41.5% for the second quarter of 2021 and 41.7% for the third quarter of 2020. The efficiencies of the Company’s “branch-light” model have positioned the Company well, and going forward, provide more flexibility for the Company to make significant investments in technology as the industry adapts to evolving client behavior.

Income Taxes

The effective combined federal and state income tax rate for the third quarter of 2021 was 26.0%, an increase from 25.8% for the second quarter of 2021 and an increase from 23.8% for the third quarter of 2020. The effective combined federal and state income tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was 25.9%, compared to 23.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Balance Sheet

Total assets at September 30, 2021 were $3.39 billion, a 7.2% increase from $3.16 billion at June 30, 2021, and a 22.1% increase from $2.77 billion at September 30, 2020. The linked-quarter increase in total assets was primarily due to strong organic loan growth and increased on-balance sheet liquidity. The year-over-year increase in total assets was primarily due to increased cash balances, robust organic loan growth, as well as continued purchases of investment securities.

Total gross loans at September 30, 2021 were $2.71 billion, an increase of $117.8 million, or 4.5%, over total gross loans of $2.59 billion at June 30, 2021, and an increase of $452.8 million, or 20.0%, over total gross loans of $2.26 billion at September 30, 2020. The increase in the loan portfolio during the third quarter of 2021 was primarily due to growth in the commercial, multifamily and CRE nonowner occupied segments, offset partially by the payoff of PPP loans. When excluding the PPP loans altogether, gross loans grew $162.7 million during the third quarter of 2021, or 25.9% on an annualized basis. The Company's continued strong loan growth has been driven by the expansion of the talented lending teams, PPP-related client acquisition opportunities, the strong and growing brand of the Bank in the Twin Cities market and the M&A-related market disruption in the Twin Cities resulting in client and banker acquisition opportunities.

The following table presents the dollar composition of the Company’s loan portfolio, by category, at the dates indicated:

Total deposits at September 30, 2021 were $2.85 billion, an increase of $133.3 million, or 4.9%, over total deposits of $2.72 billion at June 30, 2021, and an increase of $581.1 million, or 25.6%, over total deposits of $2.27 billion at September 30, 2020. Deposit growth in the third quarter of 2021 was primarily due to an increase in noninterest bearing and interest bearing transaction deposits and savings and money market deposits, offset partially by a decline in time deposits and brokered deposits. Similar to the loan portfolio, the growth in core deposits has been a result of successful new client and banker acquisition initiatives and the strong, growing brand of the Bank in the Twin Cities market.

The following table presents the dollar composition of the Company’s deposit portfolio, by category, at the dates indicated:

Capital

On July 8, 2021, the Company announced the completion of a private placement of $30.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 3.25% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated debentures due 2031. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the private placement for general corporate purposes, including support for organic growth plans, support for bank level capital ratios and possible redemption or repurchase of outstanding indebtedness.

In July of 2021, the Company redeemed $11.3 million of the $25.0 million outstanding of its fixed-to-floating rate subordinated debentures due in 2027. The early redemption of the subordinated debentures was recorded as a loss on the extinguishment of subordinated debt, included in noninterest expense, in the amount of $582,000, consisting of $532,000 in prepayment penalties and $50,000 in unamortized issuance costs.

On August 17, 2021, the Company announced the closing of its underwritten public offering of 2,400,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/100^th interest in a share of the Company’s 5.875% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (“Series A Preferred Stock”). On August 20, 2021, the underwriters of the offering exercised in full their option to purchase 360,000 additional depositary shares to cover over-allotments. As a result, the gross proceeds from the offering totaled $69.0 million. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes, including support for organic growth plans, support for bank level capital ratios and possible redemption or repurchase of outstanding indebtedness. On October 26, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend on the Series A Preferred Stock, payable on December 1, 2021 to shareholders of record on the Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on November 15, 2021.

Total shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2021 was $367.8 million, an increase of $77.0 million, or 26.5%, over total shareholders’ equity of $290.8 million at June 30, 2021, and an increase of $102.4 million, or 38.6%, over total shareholders’ equity of $265.4 million at September 30, 2020. The linked-quarter increase was due to net income retained and the issuance of preferred stock, offset partially by stock repurchases made under the Company’s stock repurchase program. The year-over-year increase was due to net income retained, the issuance of preferred stock and an increase in unrealized gains in the securities and derivatives portfolios, offset partially by stock repurchases made under the Company’s stock repurchase program. The consolidated tier 1 leverage ratio increased to 10.70% at September 30, 2021, compared to 9.08% at June 30, 2021, primarily due to the preferred stock issuance.

Strong earnings and capital growth coupled with better asset quality visibility as loan modifications expired, supported management’s decision to resume repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program. The Company remains committed to maintaining strong capital levels while enhancing shareholder value as it strategically executes its stock repurchase program in this fluid economic environment. During the third quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased 126,507 shares of its common stock. Shares were repurchased at a weighted average price of $16.11 for a total of $2.0 million.

Tangible book value per share, a non-GAAP financial measure, was $10.62 as of September 30, 2021, an increase of 3.9% from $10.22 as of June 30, 2021, and an increase of 16.4% from $9.13 as of September 30, 2020. Tangible common equity as a percentage of tangible assets, a non-GAAP financial measure, was 8.81% at September 30, 2021, compared to 9.10% at June 30, 2021.

Asset Quality

Annualized net charge-offs as a percent of average loans for the third quarter of 2021 were 0.00%, consistent with 0.00% for the second quarter of 2021 and the third quarter of 2020. At September 30, 2021, the Company’s nonperforming assets, which include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days and still accruing, and foreclosed assets, were $734,000, or 0.02% of total assets, as compared to $761,000, or 0.02% of total assets at June 30, 2021, and $433,000 or 0.02% of total assets at September 30, 2020.

The Company has increased oversight and analysis of all segments of the loan portfolio in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in vulnerable industries such as hospitality and restaurants, to proactively monitor evolving credit risk. Loans that have potential weaknesses that warrant a watchlist risk rating at September 30, 2021 totaled $67.4 million, compared to $56.7 million at June 30, 2021, and $50.9 million at September 30, 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the length and extent of the economic uncertainty may result in further watchlist or adverse classifications in the loan portfolio. Loans that warranted a substandard risk rating at September 30, 2021 totaled $7.7 million, compared to $7.2 million at June 30, 2021, and $16.1 million at September 30, 2020.

The following table presents a summary of asset quality measurements at the dates indicated: