CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Byline Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BY), today reported:

Board Declares Cash Dividend of $0.10 per Share

On January 21, 2025, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share which represents an 11.1% increase from the previous quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share. The dividend will be paid on February 18, 2025, to stockholders of record of the Company's common stock as of February 4, 2025.

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS

Net Interest Income

Quarterly results

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $88.5 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 1.2%, from the third quarter of 2024. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to decreases in interest expense on deposits and interest expense on other borrowings primarily due to the lower interest rate environment. These were offset by decreases in interest and fees on loans and leases primarily due to lower yields as a result of the lower interest rate environment.

Tax-equivalent net interest margin⁽¹⁾ for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 4.02%, an increase of 13 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2024. Net loan accretion income positively contributed 12 basis points to the net interest margin for the current quarter compared to 13 basis points for the prior quarter.

The average cost of total deposits was 2.48% for the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of 28 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2024, as a result of lower rates paid on interest bearing deposits. Average non-interest-bearing demand deposits were 23.8% of average total deposits for the current quarter compared to 23.2% during the prior quarter.

Full-year results

Net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $348.0 million, an increase of $17.4 million, or 5.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in net interest income was primarily due to increases in interest and dividend income due to growth in the loan and lease portfolio, offset by increases in deposit interest expense due to growth in the deposit base.

Tax-equivalent net interest margin⁽¹⁾ for the year ended December 31, 2024 was 3.98%, a decrease of 34 basis points compared to 4.32% the year ended December 31, 2023. Net loan accretion income positively contributed 15 basis points to the net interest margin during 2024 compared to 22 basis points during 2023.

The average cost of total deposits was 2.61% for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of 71 basis points compared to the year ended December 31, 2023, as a result of deposit growth, shift in deposit mix, and higher average rates paid on time deposits and money market accounts. Average non-interest-bearing demand deposits were 24.4% of average total deposits for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 30.7% during the prior year.

Provision for Credit Losses

Quarterly results

The provision for credit losses was $6.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of $597,000 compared to $7.5 million for the third quarter of 2024, mainly attributed to decreases in non-performing loans and leases. The provision for credit losses for the quarter is comprised of a provision for loan and lease losses of $6.9 million compared to $7.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, and a recapture of the provision for unfunded commitments of $42,000 compared to $122,000 in the third quarter of 2024.

Full-year results

The provision for credit losses was $27.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, a decrease of $4.6 million compared to $31.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, mainly attributable to lower non-performing loans and leases, and no day one provision resulting from acquisition accounting. The provision for credit losses for the current year was comprised of a provision for loan and lease losses of $28.3 million compared to $32.2 million in the prior year, and a recapture of the provision for unfunded commitments of $1.2 million compared to $567,000 in the prior year.

Non-interest Income

Quarterly results

Non-interest income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $16.1 million, an increase of $1.8 million, or 12.3%, compared to $14.4 million for the third quarter of 2024. The increase in total non-interest income was primarily due to increases in net gains on sales of loans, and increased net loan servicing income. The increase in net gains on sales of loans was primarily due to higher volumes and premiums.

Net gains on sales of loans were $7.1 million for the current quarter, an increase of $1.2 million, or 21.2% compared to the prior quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2024, we sold $88.9 million of U.S. government guaranteed loans compared to $79.5 million during the third quarter of 2024.

Full-year results

Non-interest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $58.9 million, an increase of $2.5 million, or 4.5%, compared to $56.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in total non-interest income was primarily due to increases in other non-interest income due to increased swap fee activity and increases in net gains on sales of loans due to higher premiums; offset by lower net loan servicing income.

Net gains on sales of loans were $24.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of $1.7 million or 7.6% compared to the prior year. During the year ended December 31, 2024, we sold $314.8 million of U.S. government guaranteed loans compared to $348.4 million during the prior year.

Non-interest Expense

Quarterly results

Non-interest expense for the fourth quarter of 2024 was $57.4 million, an increase of $3.1 million, or 5.7%, compared to $54.3 million for the third quarter of 2024. The increase in non-interest expense was mainly due to increases in salaries and employee benefits and net loss recognized on other real estate owned and other related expenses. The increases in salaries and employee benefits were due to higher incentive and equity-based compensation expense, and enhancements to our employee benefits. The increase in net loss recognized on other real estate owned and other related expenses due to additions to the other real estate owned portfolio.

Our efficiency ratio was 53.58% for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 52.02% for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 156 basis points. Our adjusted efficiency ratio was 53.37%⁽¹⁾ for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 51.62%⁽¹⁾ for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 175 basis points.

Full-year results

Non-interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $218.8 million, an increase of $9.2 million, or 4.4%, compared to $209.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase in non-interest expense was mainly due to increased salaries and employee benefits, due to higher salaries and incentives; partially offset by lower data processing expenses due to merger-related data processing expenses incurred during 2023.

Our efficiency ratio was 52.45% for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 52.62% for the year ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of 17 basis points. Our adjusted efficiency ratio was 52.24%⁽¹⁾ for the year ended December 31, 2024 compared to 49.61%⁽¹⁾ for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of 263 basis points.

Income Taxes

Quarterly results

We recorded income tax expense of $10.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $9.7 million during the third quarter of 2024. The effective tax rates were 24.9% and 24.3% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and third quarter of 2024, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate was due to income tax benefits related to share-based compensation taken in the third quarter.

Full-year results

We recorded income tax expense of $40.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $37.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. The effective tax rates were 25.0% and 25.9% for the current year and prior year, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate was due to higher income tax benefits related to share-based compensation.

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION HIGHLIGHTS

Assets

Total assets were $9.5 billion as of December 31, 2024, an increase of $72.2 million, or 0.8%, compared to $9.4 billion at September 30, 2024, and an increase of $614.6 million from $8.9 billion as of December 31, 2023.

The increase for the current quarter was mainly due to an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $110.5 million, primarily due to higher FHLB advances, offset by decreases in securities available-for-sale of $86.4 million.

The increase for the current year was mainly due to an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $337.0 million due to higher FHLB advances, an increase in net loans and leases of $226.2 million due to organic growth, and an increase in securities available-for-sale of $73.2 million due to purchases of securities.

Asset and Credit Quality

The ACL was $98.0 million as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of $872,000, or 0.9%, from $98.9 million at September 30, 2024, mainly due to net charge-offs. The ACL decreased $3.7 million from $101.7 million as of December 31, 2023, primarily due to lower provision for credit losses and higher charge-offs during 2024 compared to 2023.

Net charge-offs of loans and leases during the fourth quarter of 2024 were $7.8 million, or 0.45% of average loans and leases, on an annualized basis. This was a decrease of $675,000 compared to net charge-offs of $8.5 million, or 0.49% of average loans and leases, during the third quarter of 2024. The decrease for the quarter was primarily due to higher recoveries compared to the prior quarter.

Net charge-offs of loans and leases during the year ended December 31, 2024 were $32.0 million, or 0.47% of average loans and leases, an increase of $8.9 million, compared to $23.1 million, or 0.38% of average loans and leases, during the year ended December 31, 2023. The increase for the current year was due to resolution of several non-performing loans.

Non-performing assets were $67.2 million, or 0.71% of total assets, as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of $3.8 million from $71.0 million, or 0.75% of total assets, at September 30, 2024. The decrease was primarily in non-accrual conventional loans due to active resolutions. The government guaranteed portion of non-performing loans included in non-performing assets was $9.9 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $11.3 million at September 30, 2024, a decrease of $1.5 million.

Non-performing assets increased $1.9 million compared to December 31, 2023, primarily due to increases in other real estate owned. The government guaranteed portion of non-performing loans included in non-performing assets at December 31, 2024 increased $5.7 million compared to $4.1 million at December 31, 2023.

Deposits and Other Liabilities

Total deposits decreased $39.3 million to $7.5 billion at December 31, 2024 compared to $7.5 billion at September 30, 2024, and increased $281.6 million from $7.2 billion at December 31, 2023. The decrease in deposits in the current quarter was due to decreases in time deposits, offset by increases in money market demand accounts. The increase in deposits for the full year was primarily due to increased money market demand accounts and interest bearing checking accounts.

Total borrowings and other liabilities were $946.4 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $116.3 million from $830.1 million at September 30, 2024, and an increase of $231.6 million compared to $714.8 million at December 31, 2023. The increases were primarily driven by increased FHLB advances.

Stockholders� Equity

Total stockholders� equity was $1.1 billion at December 31, 2024, a decrease of $4.8 million, or 0.4%, from September 30, 2024, primarily due to an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss, offset by increases to retained earnings from net income. Total stockholders' equity increased by $101.3 million, or 10.2% compared to $990.2 million at December 31, 2023, primarily due to retained earnings from net income.

Conference Call, Webcast and Slide Presentation

We will host a conference call and webcast at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on Friday, January 24, 2025, to discuss our quarterly financial results. Analysts and investors may participate in the question-and-answer session. The call can be accessed via telephone at (833) 470-1428; passcode 861322. A recorded replay can be accessed through February 7, 2025, by dialing (866) 813-9403; passcode: 409178.

A slide presentation relating to our fourth quarter 2024 results will be accessible prior to the conference call. The slide presentation and webcast of the conference call can be accessed on our investor relations website at www.bylinebancorp.com.

About Byline Bancorp, Inc.

Headquartered in Chicago, Byline Bancorp, Inc. is the parent company of Byline Bank, a full service commercial bank serving small- and medium-sized businesses, financial sponsors, and consumers. Byline Bank has approximately $9.5 billion in assets and operates 46 branch locations throughout the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. Byline Bank offers a broad range of commercial and community banking products and services including small ticket equipment leasing solutions and is one of the top Small Business Administration lenders in the United States.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements concerning plans, estimates, calculations, forecasts and projections with respect to the anticipated future performance of the Company. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "may," ��might," "should," "could," ��predict," "potential," "believe," "expect," "continue," "will," "anticipate," "seek," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "projection," "would," "annualized," "target" and "outlook," or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. Forward-looking statements involve estimates and known and unknown risks, and reflect various assumptions and involve elements of subjective judgment and analysis, which may or may not prove to be correct, and which are subject to uncertainties and contingencies outside the control of Byline and its respective affiliates, directors, employees and other representatives, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those presented in this communication.

No representations, warranties or guarantees are or will be made by Byline as to the reliability, accuracy or completeness of any forward-looking statements contained in this communication or that such forward-looking statements are or will remain based on reasonable assumptions. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this communication.

Certain risks and important factors that could affect Byline�s future results are identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including among other things under the heading �Risk Factors� in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Byline undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise unless required under the federal securities laws.