Bankwell Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BWFG) reported record GAAP net income of $8.2 million, or $1.04 per share, for the first quarter of 2022, versus $5.7 million, or $0.71 per share, for the same period in 2021.

The Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.20 per share cash dividend, payable May 23, 2022 to shareholders of record on May 13, 2022.

We recommend reading this earnings release in conjunction with the First Quarter 2022 Investor Presentation, located at http://investor.mybankwell.com/Presentations and included as an exhibit to our April 27, 2022 Current Report on Form 8-K.

Notes Bankwell Financial Group President and CEO, Christopher R. Gruseke:

"Our team has begun the year with continued high performance. Loan balances grew by almost 5% compared to year end 2021 and our financial results for the quarter were exceptionally strong. The Company achieved record ROAA and ROAE levels of 1.35% and 16.05%, respectively, while operating at an efficiency ratio of 48.5%.

"On the operational front, we have just completed a successful conversion of our core data processing system. This is the second major system conversion the team has successfully executed within the past twelve months as we invested in a new online banking platform during the 2nd half of 2021. We have also begun a systematic review of every operational process at the Bank. This process mapping project will help to identify opportunities to employ further technological solutions and increase efficiencies through the organization.

"Credit quality remains high and our loan pipeline is as vibrant as it has been for the last several quarters. We reaffirm prior guidance of year over year net interest income growth of 12%-14% for 2022.

"Most importantly, I’d like to congratulate and thank my Bankwell colleagues whose hard work and dedication have made the Company’s accomplishments possible."

First Quarter 2022 Highlights:

• Return on average assets was 1.35% and return on average equity was 16.05% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
• The net interest margin was 3.30% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
• The efficiency ratio was 48.5% for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
• Total gross loans were $2.0 billion, growing $90.4 million, or 4.8%, compared to December 31, 2021.
• Gains from loan sales totaled $0.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.
• Total deposits were $2.2 billion compared to $2.1 billion at December 31, 2021.
• Noninterest bearing deposits increased by $14.0 million, or 3.5% compared to December 31, 2021.
• The percentage of noninterest bearing deposits to total deposits increased to 19.1% compared to 18.8% at December 31, 2021.
• Investment securities totaled $116.8 million and represent 4.7% of total assets.
• Fully diluted tangible book value per share rose to $26.75 compared to $25.55 at December 31, 2021.
• Shares issued and outstanding were 7,761,338, reflecting repurchases of 112,829 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $34.01 during the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Earnings and Performance

Revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income) for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 were $20.5 million, versus $16.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in interest and fees on loans due to loan growth and higher overall loan yields and from lower interest expense on deposits. The increase in revenues was partially offset by a decrease in noninterest income driven by a one-time federal payroll tax credit for COVID-19 of $0.9 million recognized in the quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 was $8.2 million, versus $5.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The increase in net income was primarily impacted by the aforementioned increases in revenues, partially offset by an increase in the provision for loan losses driven by loan growth and a slight increase in noninterest expense.

Basic and diluted earnings per share were $1.05 and $1.04, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.72 and $0.71, respectively, for the quarter ended March 31, 2021.

The net interest margin (fully taxable equivalent basis) for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and March 31, 2021 was 3.30% and 2.74%, respectively. The increase in the net interest margin was due to lower interest expense from a decrease in rates on interest bearing deposits, a greater proportion of noninterest bearing deposits and, to a lesser extent, an increase in overall loan yields.

Financial Condition

Assets totaled $2.50 billion at March 31, 2022, compared to assets of $2.46 billion at December 31, 2021. The increase in assets was primarily due to loan growth, partially offset by a decrease in excess liquidity. Gross loans totaled $2.0 billion at March 31, 2022, an increase of $90.4 million compared to December 31, 2021. Deposits totaled $2.2 billion at March 31, 2022, compared to deposits of $2.1 billion at December 31, 2021.

Capital

Shareholders’ equity totaled $210.2 million as of March 31, 2022, an increase of $8.2 million compared to December 31, 2021, primarily a result of (i) net income of $8.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and (ii) a $4.9 million favorable impact to accumulated other comprehensive income driven by fair value marks related to hedge positions involving interest rate swaps. The Company's interest rate swaps are used to hedge interest rate risk. The Company's current interest rate swap positions will cause a decrease to other comprehensive income in a falling interest rate environment and an increase in a rising interest rate environment. The increase in Shareholders’ equity was partially offset by dividends paid of $1.6 million and common stock repurchases of $3.8 million.

About Bankwell Financial Group

Bankwell is a commercial bank that serves the banking needs of residents and businesses throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut. For more information about this press release, interested parties may contact Christopher R. Gruseke, President and Chief Executive Officer or Penko Ivanov, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bankwell Financial Group at (203) 652-0166.

For more information, visit www.mybankwell.com.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements about the Company. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding anticipated future events and can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” and “intend” or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” Forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results include, but are not limited to, increased competitive pressures, changes in the interest rate environment, general economic conditions or conditions within the securities markets, uncertain impacts of, or additional changes in, monetary, fiscal or tax policy to address the impact of COVID-19, which could further exacerbate the effects on the Company’s business and results of operations, and legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business in which the Company and its subsidiaries are engaged.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to evaluating the Company's financial performance in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), management may evaluate certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as the efficiency ratio. A computation and reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial measures used for these purposes is contained in the accompanying Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures tables. We believe that providing certain non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with information useful in understanding our financial performance, our performance trends and financial position. For example, the Company believes that the efficiency ratio is useful in the assessment of financial performance, including noninterest expense control. The Company believes that tangible common equity, tangible book value per share, and return on average tangible common equity are useful to evaluate the relative strength of the Company's performance and capital position. We utilize these measures for internal planning and forecasting purposes. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and we strongly encourage investors to review our consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.

Total nonaccrual loans declined $0.8 million to $15.7 million as of March 31, 2022 when compared to December 31, 2021. Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets was 0.63% at March 31, 2022, down from 0.68% at December 31, 2021. The allowance for loan losses at March 31, 2022 was $17.1 million, representing 0.86% of total loans.

Gross loans totaled $2.0 billion at March 31, 2022, an increase of $90.4 million compared to December 31, 2021.

Total deposits were $2.2 billion at March 31, 2022, compared to $2.1 billion at December 31, 2021, an increase of $42.2 million, or 2.0%.

Noninterest income decreased by $1.0 million to $1.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The decrease in noninterest income was driven by a one-time federal payroll tax credit for COVID-19 of $0.9 million recognized in the quarter ended March 31, 2021.

Noninterest expense increased by $0.3 million to $9.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2021. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily driven by an increase in professional services expense and data processing expense.

Professional services expense totaled $1.0 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, an increase of $0.4 million when compared to the same period in 2021. The increase in professional services expense was primarily driven by consulting fees associated with various projects, including our core system conversion.

Data processing expense totaled $0.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022, an increase of $0.1 million when compared to the same period in 2021. The increase in data processing expense was primarily driven by costs associated with our new online banking system.

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