Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earnings of $1.11 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2021, compared to $.42 per common share in the same quarter last year and $1.11 per common share in the fourth quarter of 2020. Net income attributable to Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (net income) for the first quarter of 2021 amounted to $131.0 million, compared to $51.9 million in the first quarter of 2020 and $129.9 million in the prior quarter. For the quarter, the return on average assets was 1.63%, the return on average equity was 15.69% and the efficiency ratio was 56.4%.

In announcing these results, John Kemper, Chief Executive Officer, said, “This quarter we continued to see strong performance from our fee-based businesses, which are healthy and accounted for 40% of total revenue. Growth in non-interest income resulted from higher trust, mortgage banking and capital markets fees. Non-interest expense declined compared to the same quarter last year, as salaries and benefits expense was flat, while most other expense categories declined. Net income was also aided by the release of reserves for credit losses on loans. Continued economic recovery coupled with a more optimistic outlook resulted in a lower estimate of the allowance for credit losses and reduced our provision for credit losses this quarter. Net securities gains of $9.9 million were driven by an increase in the value of our portfolio of private equity investments. Compared to the previous quarter, average deposits grew $898.6 million, or 3.5%, while loan demand was mixed. Average loan balances in construction and personal real estate increased, but lower business, consumer, and consumer credit card balances kept total average loan balances relatively flat. While average business loan balances decreased $47.4 million this quarter, this includes a net decline of $102.3 million of PPP loan balances.”

Mr. Kemper continued, “This quarter, net loan charge-offs totaled $10.0 million, compared to $8.0 million in the prior quarter and $10.9 million in the first quarter of 2020. The ratio of annualized net loan charge-offs to average loans was .25% in the current quarter, .19% in the prior quarter and .30% in the first quarter of last year. Net loan charge-offs on commercial loans totaled $17 thousand this quarter compared to $572 thousand in the prior quarter. Non-performing assets decreased this quarter from $26.6 million to $23.7 million. At March 31, 2021, the allowance for credit losses on loans decreased to $200.5 million.”

Total assets at March 31, 2021 were $33.3 billion, total loans were $16.4 billion, and total deposits were $27.4 billion. During the quarter, the Company paid a cash dividend of $.263 per share, representing a 2.1% increase over the rate paid in the fourth quarter of 2020. The Company purchased 354,181 shares of its common stock this quarter.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is a regional bank holding company offering a full line of banking services, including payment solutions, investment management and securities brokerage. Commerce Bank, a subsidiary of Commerce Bancshares, Inc., leverages more than 150 years of proven strength and experience to help individuals and businesses solve financial challenges. In addition to offering payment solutions across the U.S., Commerce Bank currently operates full-service banking facilities across the Midwest including the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas, Springfield, Central Missouri, Central Illinois, Wichita, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Denver. It also maintains commercial offices in Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Nashville, Des Moines, Indianapolis, and Grand Rapids. Commerce delivers high-touch service and sophisticated financial solutions at regional branches, commercial offices, ATMs, online, mobile and through a 24/7 customer service line.

This financial news release, including management's discussion of first quarter results, is posted to the Company's web site at www.commercebank.com.

COMMERCE BANCSHARES, INC.

Management Discussion of First Quarter Results

March 31, 2021

For the quarter ended March 31, 2021, net income attributable to Commerce Bancshares, Inc. (net income) amounted to $131.0 million, compared to $129.9 million in the previous quarter and $51.9 million in the same quarter last year. The increase in net income over the previous quarter was primarily the result of higher non-interest income, lower non-interest expense, and a decrease in the provision for credit losses, partly offset by lower net interest income and net securities gains. The provision for credit losses declined this quarter, compared to the prior quarter, due to a decrease in the estimate of the allowance for credit losses on loans. Net interest income decreased this quarter mostly due to lower interest earned on loans. The net yield on interest earning assets declined nine basis points. Average loans were slightly lower compared to the previous quarter, while average available for sale debt securities grew $532.3 million, and average deposits increased $898.6 million. For the quarter, the return on average assets was 1.63%, the return on average common equity was 15.69%, and the efficiency ratio was 56.4%.

Balance Sheet Review

During the 1^st quarter of 2021, average loans totaled $16.3 billion, decreased $28.3 million from the prior quarter, and increased $1.6 billion, or 11.2%, over the same quarter last year. Period end loans increased $62.4 million compared to the prior quarter. Compared to the previous quarter, average balances of construction and land and personal real estate loans grew $59.1 million and $47.7 million, respectively. This growth was mostly offset by declines in business, consumer, consumer credit card, and revolving home equity loans of $47.4 million, $33.7 million, $29.4 million, and $17.5 million, respectively. The period end balance of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans (included in business loans) increased $66.7 million during the 1^st quarter and totaled $1.4 billion at March 31, 2021. This growth reflected $331.4 million of loan balances originated this quarter (round 2), partly offset by a decline of $264.7 million in loan balances from year end (round 1). Average PPP loan balances declined $102.3 million compared to the prior quarter. Growth in personal real estate loan balances was due to continued strong demand for residential mortgage loans this quarter. During the current quarter, the Company sold certain fixed rate personal real estate loans totaling $177.8 million, compared to $136.0 million in the prior quarter.

Total average available for sale debt securities increased $532.3 million over the previous quarter to $12.7 billion, at fair value. The increase in investment securities was mainly the result of growth in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. During the current quarter, purchases of securities totaled $1.3 billion with a weighted average yield of approximately .93%. Maturities and pay downs were $939.6 million. At March 31, 2021, the duration of the investment portfolio was 3.9 years, and maturities and pay downs of approximately $2.3 billion are expected to occur during the next 12 months.

Total average deposits increased $898.6 million this quarter compared to the previous quarter. The increase in deposits resulted from growth in interest checking and money market ($771.7 million), and savings deposits ($98.7 million), partly offset by a decline in certificates of deposit ($134.7 million). Average demand deposits also increased $162.9 million over the previous quarter. Compared to the previous quarter, total average consumer and wealth deposits (including private banking) grew $570.2 million and $305.2 million, respectively, while average commercial deposits declined $49.2 million. The average loans to deposits ratio was 61.8% in the current quarter and 64.1% in the prior quarter. The Company’s average borrowings, which includes customer repurchase agreements, were $2.2 billion in the 1^st quarter of 2021 and $2.0 billion in the prior quarter.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income in the 1^st quarter of 2021 amounted to $205.7 million, a decrease of $4.0 million compared to the previous quarter. On a tax equivalent basis, net interest income for the current quarter decreased $4.2 million from the previous quarter to $208.8 million. The decrease in net interest income was mainly due to lower income earned on loans. The net yield on earning assets (tax equivalent) decreased to 2.71%, compared to 2.80% in the prior quarter.

Compared to the previous quarter, interest income on loans (tax equivalent) decreased $4.3 million, mostly as a result of lower yields on loans, mainly consumer credit card, personal real estate, construction and land, and consumer loans, coupled with a decline in consumer credit card average loan balances. Partially offsetting these decreases was growth in interest income due to higher average construction and land and personal real estate loan balances and higher yields on business loans. The decline in the consumer credit card yield was partially due to the reversal of interest on delinquent loans that exited the Company’s skip pay program last summer and were charged off this quarter. The average tax-equivalent yield on the loan portfolio declined three basis points to 3.66% this quarter.

Interest income on investment securities (tax equivalent) decreased $1.0 million from the previous quarter, due to lower rates earned, partly offset by higher average balances. At March 31, 2021, the Company recorded a $4.1 million adjustment to premium amortization, which increased interest income this quarter to reflect a slowdown in forward prepayment speed estimates on mortgage-backed securities due to rising interest rates during the quarter. This adjustment mostly offset higher premium amortization recorded on these securities during the quarter due to the recent surge in mortgage refinancing. Interest income earned on U.S. government and federal agency securities decreased, as Treasury inflation-protected securities inflation income declined $426 thousand this quarter to $1.5 million. The yield on total investment securities was 1.72% in the current quarter, compared to 1.81% in the previous quarter.

The average rate paid on deposits totaled nine basis points in the 1^st quarter of 2021, compared to 12 basis points in the prior quarter. Interest expense on deposits decreased $1.0 million this quarter compared to the previous quarter mainly due to lower rates paid on money market and certificate of deposit accounts. The overall rate paid on interest bearing liabilities was .09% in the current quarter, compared to .11% in the prior quarter.

Non-Interest Income

In the 1^st quarter of 2021, total non-interest income amounted to $136.0 million, an increase of $12.4 million, or 10.0%, compared to the same period last year and increased $928 thousand compared to the prior quarter. The increase in non-interest income over the same period last year was mainly due to growth in loan fees and sales, capital market fees, and trust fees.

Total net bank card fees in the current quarter decreased $2.5 million, or 6.2%, from the same period last year, and decreased $2.3 million, or 5.7%, compared to the prior quarter. Net corporate card fees decreased $2.7 million, or 11.8%, from the same quarter of last year mainly due to lower fee income, partly offset by lower rewards expense. Net debit card fees increased $45 thousand, or 0.5%. Net merchant income increased $226 thousand, or 5.1%, while net credit card fees decreased $66 thousand, or 1.9%. Total net bank card fees this quarter were comprised of fees on corporate card ($20.3 million), debit card ($9.4 million), merchant ($4.6 million) and credit card ($3.4 million) transactions.

In the current quarter, trust fees increased $4.2 million, or 10.4%, over the same period last year, resulting mostly from higher private client fee income. Compared to the same period last year, deposit account fees decreased $1.1 million, or 4.7%, mainly due to lower overdraft and return item fees, partly offset by an increase in corporate cash management fees. Additionally, capital market fees grew $1.2 million, or 31.4%, while loan fees and sales, mostly mortgage banking revenue, grew $6.9 million, or 214.8%, over amounts recorded in the same quarter last year.

Other non-interest income increased over the same period last year due to gains of $2.4 million recorded this quarter on the sale of a branch location and a $1.2 million increase in swap fees. Fair value adjustments on the Company’s deferred compensation plan assets, which are held in a trust and recorded as both an asset and liability, increased $3.4 million over the same quarter last year, affecting both other income and other expense. These increases were partially offset by a $2.8 million decline in cash sweep commissions. For the 1^st quarter of 2021, non-interest income comprised 39.8% of the Company’s total revenue.

Investment Securities Gains and Losses

The Company recorded net securities gains of $9.9 million in the current quarter, compared to net gains of $12.3 million in the prior quarter and net losses of $13.3 million in the 1^st quarter of 2020. Net securities gains in the current quarter primarily resulted from $8.4 million of unrealized gains in fair value and $1.5 million from the sale of an investment in the Company’s private equity investment portfolio.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense for the current quarter amounted to $192.6 million, compared to $193.7 million in the same period last year and $196.3 million in the prior quarter. The decrease in non-interest expense compared to the same period last year was mainly due to lower other non-interest and marketing expense, partly offset by higher data processing and software expense.

Compared to the 1^st quarter of last year, salaries and employee benefits expense was mostly flat, as a $3.6 million increase in incentive compensation was offset by decreases of $1.5 million and $1.8 million in full-time salaries and medical expense, respectively. Full-time equivalent employees totaled 4,619 and 4,854 at March 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Marketing, equipment, and supplies and communication expense decreased $821 thousand, $468 thousand, and $533 thousand, respectively. These decreases were partly offset by a $1.9 million increase in data processing and software expense, which reflects continuing investment in technology.

Other non-interest expense decreased mainly due to a $2.0 million decrease in travel and entertainment expense, a $2.1 million reduction in impairment expense on mortgage servicing rights, and a $1.1 million increase in deferred loan origination costs. These decreases were partially offset by the $3.4 million deferred compensation adjustment mentioned above.

Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the Company was 19.7% in the current quarter, 20.3% in the previous quarter, and 16.4% in the 1^st quarter of 2020.

Credit Quality

Net loan charge-offs in the 1^st quarter of 2021 amounted to $10.0 million, compared to $8.0 million in the prior quarter and $10.9 million in the same period last year. The ratio of annualized net loan charge-offs to total average loans was .25% in the current quarter, .19% in the previous quarter, and .30% in the 1^st quarter of last year. Compared to the prior quarter, net loan charge-offs on commercial loans decreased $555 thousand to $17 thousand, while net loan charge-offs on personal banking loans increased $2.5 million to $9.9 million.

In the 1^st quarter of 2021, annualized net loan charge-offs on average consumer credit card loans were 5.98%, compared to 3.72% in the previous quarter, and 5.06% in the same quarter last year. Consumer loan net charge-offs were .16% of average consumer loans in the current quarter, .23% in the prior quarter and .35% in the same quarter last year. The elevated consumer credit card charge-off rate was mostly due to the migration of delinquent accounts that exited the Company’s skip pay program initiated last summer in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Actual economic data for the first quarter and the economic forecast used to estimate the allowance for credit losses in March 2021 showed improving economic conditions compared to the forecast utilized in December 2020. This improvement resulted in a decrease in the allowance for credit losses as of March 31, 2021, and also reduced the provision for credit losses this quarter compared to the prior quarter. At March 31, 2021, the allowance for credit losses on loans totaled $200.5 million, or 1.22% of total loans and 1.34% of total loans excluding PPP loans. Additionally, the liability for unfunded lending commitments at March 31, 2021 was $42.4 million, an increase of $4.1 million over the liability at December 31, 2020.

At March 31, 2021, total non-performing assets amounted to $23.7 million, a decrease of $2.9 million from the previous quarter. Non-performing assets are comprised of non-accrual loans and foreclosed real estate ($23.5 million and $208 thousand, respectively). At March 31, 2021, the balance of non-accrual loans, which represented .14% of loans outstanding, included business loans of $20.5 million, business real estate loans of $1.6 million, and personal real estate loans of $1.7 million. Loans more than 90 days past due and still accruing interest totaled $21.5 million at March 31, 2021.

Other

During the 1^st quarter of 2021, the Company paid a cash dividend of $.263 per common share, representing a 2.1% increase over the same period last year. The Company purchased 354,181 shares of treasury stock during the current quarter at an average price of $73.19.

Forward-Looking Information

This information contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include future financial and operating results, expectations, intentions and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210415005192/en/