PCB Bancorp (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: PCB), the holding company of Pacific City Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $8.6 million, or $0.55 per diluted common share for the first quarter of 2021, compared with $5.8 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share, for the previous quarter and $3.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted common share, for the year-ago quarter.

Q1 2021 Highlights

• Net income totaled $8.6 million or $0.55 per diluted common share;
  • The Company recorded a provision (reversal) for loan losses of $(1.1) million for the current quarter compared with $2.1 million for the previous quarter and $2.9 million for the year-ago quarter.
  • Allowance for loan losses to total loans held-for-investment ratio was 1.51% at March 31, 2021 compared with 1.67% at December 31, 2020 and 1.15% at March 31, 2020. Excluding U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans, allowance for loan losses to total loans held-for-investment ratio was 1.74% and 1.83% at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
  • Net interest margin was 3.70% for the first quarter of 2021 compared with 3.64% for the previous quarter and 3.85% for the year-ago quarter.
• Total assets were $2.05 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $127.8 million, or 6.6%, from $1.92 billion at December 31, 2020 and an increase of $250.7 million, or 13.9%, from $1.80 billion at March 31, 2020;
• Loans held-for-investment, net of deferred costs (fees), were $1.69 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $102.3 million, or 6.5%, from $1.58 billion at December 31, 2020 and an increase of $234.9 million, or 16.2%, from $1.45 billion at March 31, 2020;
  • SBA PPP loans totaled $218.7 million and $135.7 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. During the current quarter, the Company funded $104.3 million of SBA PPP loans.
  • Loans under modified terms related to COVID-19 totaled $19.8 million and $36.1 million at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
• Total deposits were $1.75 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $158.9 million from $1.59 billion at December 31, 2020 and an increase of $276.3 million, or 18.7%, from $1.48 billion at March 31, 2020;
• Announced a repurchase program on April 8, 2021 for the repurchase up to 5% of outstanding common stock, which represented 775,000 shares, through September 7, 2021; and
• Declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share on April 22, 2021. This represents the 25th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by PCB Bancorp.

“We are pleased to announce a record quarter driven by strong core income, positive credit trends and an improving economic outlook that resulted in a release of loan loss reserves,” said Henry Kim, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our allowance to loan losses remain robust at 1.74% excluding SBA PPP loans and we continue to successfully reduce our cost of deposits resulting an expansion of net interest margin to 3.70% compared with 3.64% in the fourth quarter of 2020. This solid performance is the result of our dedicated team of people who reached out to the customers at the height of the pandemic to genuinely serve and to find solutions to their unprecedented situations.”

“Our 2021 first quarter results reflect our sound underwriting and our focus on relationship banking. We are well prepared to expand on this successful momentum as the economy continues to reopen and look forward to the remainder of this year.”

Financial Highlights (Unaudited)

COVID-19 Pandemic

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and governmental and societal responses thereto, have had a severe impact on recent global economic and market conditions, including significant disruption of, and volatility in, financial markets; global supply chain disruptions; and the institution of social distancing and shelter-in-place requirements that have resulted in temporary closures of many businesses, lost revenues, and increased unemployment throughout the U.S., but also specifically in California, where most of the Company’s operations and a large majority of its customers are located.

Since the beginning of the crisis, the Company has taken a number of steps to protect the safety of its employees and to support its customers. The Company has enabled its staff to work remotely and established safety measures within its bank premises and branches for both employees and customers.

In order to support its customers, the Company has been in close contact with its customers, assessing the level of impact on their businesses, and putting a process in place to evaluate each client’s specific situation and provide relief programs where appropriate. SBA PPP loans totaled $218.7 million (2,249 loans) and loans under modified terms related to the COVID-19 pandemic totaled $19.8 million (18 loan customers) as of March 31, 2021. The Company had received SBA PPP forgiveness of $23.7 million for 440 SBA PPP loans as of March 31, 2021. On January 13, 2021, SBA began accepting applications for second draw PPP loans and the Company had funded $104.3 million (1,072 loans) as of March 31, 2021. The Company is accepting applications and will continue to receive applications as long as funding remains available.

In addition, the Company has been monitoring its liquidity and capital closely. As of March 31, 2021, the Company maintained $211.8 million, or 10.3% of total assets, of cash and cash equivalents and $540.1 million, or 26.3% of total assets, of available borrowing capacity. All regulatory capital ratios were also well above the regulatory well capitalized requirements as of March 31, 2021.

At this time, the Company cannot estimate the long term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, but these conditions impacted and are expected to impact its business, results of operations, and financial condition negatively.

Result of Operations (Unaudited)

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

The following table presents the components of net interest income for the periods indicated:

Loans. The decrease in average yield for the current quarter compared with the previous quarter was primarily due to an increase in SBA PPP loans and a decrease in net accretion of discount on loans, partially offset by an increase in net amortization of deferred loan fees from the increased SBA PPP loan production. The decrease in average yield for the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter was primarily due to the increase in SBA PPP loans, partially offset by the increase in net amortization of deferred loan fees.

The following table presents a composition of total loans by interest rate type accompanied with the weighted-average contractual rates as of the dates indicated:

Investment Securities. The decreases in average yield for the current quarter compared with the previous and year-ago quarters were primarily due to new investment securities purchased at lower market rates and an increase in premium amortization. During the current quarter and past 12-months period, the Company purchased investment securities of $20.2 million and $52.1 million, respectively.

Other Interest-Earning Assets. The decrease in average yield for the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter was primarily due to the lower market rates. The increase in average balance for the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter was primarily due to an increase in deposits and other borrowings as the Company maintains most of its cash at the Federal Reserve Bank account. For additional detail, please see the discussion for the current quarter in “Deposits” under the “Balance Sheet” discussion.

Interest-Bearing Deposits. The decreases in average cost for the current quarter compared with the previous and year-ago quarters were primarily due to the continuing decreases in market rates.

Borrowings. The increase in average cost for the current quarter compared with the previous quarter was primarily due to matured borrowings with lower interest rates during the current quarter. During the current quarter, a FHLB advance of $40.0 million with a rate of 0.59% matured. At March 31, 2021, the Company had a total outstanding FHLB advances of $40.0 million with a weighted-average rate of 0.76%.

Provision (reversal) for Loan Losses

Provision (reversal) for loan losses was $(1.1) million for the current quarter compared with $2.1 million for the previous quarter and $2.9 million for the year-ago quarter. The reversal for the current quarter was primarily due to improvement in historical loss factors and qualitative adjustment factors reflecting general economic condition. The Company recorded net charge-offs (recoveries) of $(151) thousand for the current quarter compared with $178 thousand for the previous quarter and $601 thousand for the year-ago quarter.

The following table presents allowance for loan losses to total loans held-for-investment ratio for the dates indicated:

Noninterest Income

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

Gain on Sale of Loans. The following table presents information on gain on sale of loans for the periods indicated:

The decrease in gain on sale of SBA loans compared with the previous quarter was primarily due to a higher sales volume in the previous quarter from the SBA loans held-for-sale of $26.8 million at September 30, 2020. The decrease in gain on sale of residential property loans was primarily due to the sales of residential property loans held-for-sale of $4.0 million at September 30, 2020 and an increased origination resulted from a higher demand for refinancing from the lower market rates during the previous quarter.

Loan Servicing Income. The following table presents information on loan servicing income for the periods indicated:

The Company services SBA loans and certain residential property loans that are sold to the secondary market. The increases for the current quarter compared with the previous and year-ago quarters were primarily due to an increase in servicing income received and a decrease in servicing asset amortization from a decrease in loan payoffs.

Noninterest Expense

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

Salaries and Employee Benefits. The decrease for the current quarter compared with the previous quarter was primarily due to direct loan origination cost of $750 thousand related to SBA PPP loan production, which offsets the recognition of salaries and benefits expense, and decreases in bonus accrual and other employee benefits during the current quarter. Compared with the year-ago quarter, the decrease was primarily due to the SBA PPP loan direct loan origination cost and a decrease in other employee benefits, partially offset by an increase in bonus accrual.

Professional Fees. The decrease for the current quarter compared with the previous quarter was primarily due to increased other professional fees during the previous quarter as a part of the year-end processes. Compared with the year-ago quarter, the decrease was primarily due to a decrease in expenses related to the Bank’s Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering (“BSA/AML”) compliance enhancements. The consent order related to the BSA/AML compliance was terminated on September 30, 2020.

Marketing and business promotion. The decrease for the current quarter compared with the previous quarter was primarily due to the year-end promotion during the previous quarter and a decrease in advertisement. The decrease for the current quarter compared with the year-ago quarter was primarily due to fewer marketing activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regulatory Assessments. The decreases for the current quarter compared with the previous and year-ago quarters were primarily due to a decrease in the assessment base as SBA PPP loans are excluded from the assessment base.

Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

Total assets were $2.05 billion at March 31, 2021, an increase of $127.8 million, or 6.6%, from $1.92 billion at December 31, 2020 and an increase of $250.7 million, or 13.9%, from $1.80 billion at March 31, 2020. The increase for the current quarter was primarily due to increases in loans held-for-investment, cash and cash equivalents, and investment securities. The increase in cash and cash equivalents for the current quarter was primarily due to an increase in deposits, partially offset by increases in loans held-for-investment and investment securities and a decrease in other borrowings.

Loans

The following table presents a composition of total loans (includes both loans held-for-sale and loans held-for-investment, net of deferred costs (fees)) as of the dates indicated:

The increase in loans held-for-investment for the current quarter was primarily due to new funding of $190.4 million and advances on lines of credit of $27.8 million, partially offset by pay-downs and pay-offs of $115.4 million. SBA PPP loan production contributed significantly to the Company’s loan growth for the current quarter.

The increase in loans held-for-sale for the current quarter was primarily due to new funding of $20.4 million, partially offset by sales of $19.2 million.

The following table presents a composition of commitments to extend credit as of the dates indicated:

Credit Quality

The following table presents a summary of non-performing loans, non-performing assets and classified assets as of the dates indicated:

The increase in special mention was primarily due to downgrades of loans under modified terms related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Loans that are granted modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic in excess of 6 months, on a cumulative basis, are classified as special mention or classified.

Special mention loans included $16.4 million and $14.9 million of loans under modified terms related to the COVID-19 pandemic at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The special mention loans under modified terms related to the COVID-19 pandemic included 2 commercial property loans totaling $11.9 million, 4 commercial term loans totaling $4.3 million, and a SBA property loan of $252 thousand at March 31, 2021.

Classified loans included $1.2 million and $1.9 million of loans under modified terms related to the COVID-19 pandemic at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

Loan Modifications Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Company provided modifications, including interest only payments or payment deferrals, to customers that were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan modifications met all criteria under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). Therefore, the modified loans were not considered TDRs. Total loans under modified terms related to the COVID-19 pandemic were $19.8 million at March 31, 2021, a decrease of $16.3 million, or 45.1%, from $36.1 million at December 31, 2020 and a decrease of $464.2 million, or 95.9%, from $484.0 million at June 30, 2020.

The following table presents a summary of loans under modified terms related to the COVID-19 pandemic by portfolio segment as of March 31, 2021:

Investment Securities

Total investment securities were $127.1 million at March 31, 2021, an increase of $6.6 million, or 5.5%, from $120.5 million at December 31, 2020 and an increase of $8.8 million, or 7.5%, from $118.3 million at March 31, 2020.

The increase for the current quarter was primarily due to purchases of $20.2 million, partially offset by principal pay-downs and calls of $11.8 million and net premium amortization of $310 thousand.

On June 30, 2020, the Company transferred securities held-to-maturity to securities available-for-sale as a part of the Company’s liquidity management plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company transferred all of securities held-to-maturity of $18.8 million to securities available-for-sale, which resulted in a pre-tax increase to accumulated other comprehensive income of $787 thousand.

Deposits

The following table presents the Company’s deposit mix as of the dates indicated:

The increase in noninterest-bearing demand deposits for the current year was primarily due to the overall liquid deposit market. During the current quarter, a total of $91.4 million of SBA PPP loans were funded through the Bank’s noninterest-bearing demand deposits and deposit customers also received $10.1 million of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

The decrease in retail time deposits for the current quarter was primarily due to matured and closed accounts of $195.6 million, partially offset by new accounts of $31.6 million and renewals of the matured accounts of $136.2 million.

Liquidity

The following table presents a summary of the Company’s liquidity position as of March 31, 2021:

Shareholders’ Equity

Shareholders’ equity was $240.3 million at March 31, 2021, an increase of $6.5 million, or 2.8%, from $233.8 million at December 31, 2020 and an increase of $16.1 million, or 7.2%, from $224.1 million at March 31, 2020. The increase for the current quarter was primarily due to net income, partially offset by a cash dividend declared on common stock of $1.5 million.

Capital Ratios

Based on changes to the Federal Reserve’s definition of a “Small Bank Holding Company” that increased the threshold to $3 billion in assets in August 2018, the Company is not currently subject to separate minimum capital measurements. At such time as the Company reaches the $3 billion asset level, it will again be subject to capital measurements independent of the Bank. For comparison purposes, the Company’s ratios are included in following discussion. The following table presents capital ratios for the Company and the Bank as of dates indicated:

Declaration of Quarterly Cash Dividend

On April 22, 2021, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per common share. The dividend will be paid on or about May 14, 2021, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 7, 2021.

About PCB Bancorp

PCB Bancorp, formerly known as Pacific City Financial Corporation, is the bank holding company for Pacific City Bank, a California state chartered bank, offering a full suite of commercial banking services to small to medium-sized businesses, individuals and professionals, primarily in Southern California, and predominantly in Korean-American and other minority communities.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements represent plans, estimates, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, intentions, projections and statements of our beliefs concerning future events, business plans, objectives, expected operating results and the assumptions upon which those statements are based. Forward-looking statements include without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and are typically identified with words such as “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “aim,” “intend,” “plan,” or words or phases of similar meaning. We caution that the forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond our control, including but not limited to our borrowers’ actual payment performance as loan deferrals related to the COVID-19 pandemic expire, changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies or practices as a result of, or in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the potential adverse impact of loan modifications and payment deferrals implemented consistent with recent regulatory guidance, and the general economic uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and government and societal responses thereto. These and other important factors are detailed in various securities law filings made periodically by the Company, copies of which are available from the Company without charge. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

PCB Bancorp and Subsidiary

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

($ in thousands, except share and per share data)