UNITED BANKSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023
Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits
Signatures
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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Congress passed the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 to encourage corporations to provide investors with information about the company’s anticipated future financial performance, goals, and strategies. The act provides a safe haven for such disclosure; in other words, protection from unwarranted litigation if actual results are not the same as management expectations.
United desires to provide its shareholders with sound information about past performance and future trends. Consequently, any forward-looking statements contained in this report, in a report incorporated by reference to this report, or made by management of United in this report, in any other reports and filings, in press releases and in oral statements, involve numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of the words “expect,” “may,” “could,” “intend,” “project,” “estimate,” “believe,” “anticipate,” and other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and estimates, which although believed to be reasonable, may turn out to be incorrect. Therefore, undue reliance should not be placed upon these estimates and statements. United cannot assure that any of these statements, estimates, or beliefs will be realized and actual results may differ from those contemplated in these “forward-looking statements.” United undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
PENDING ACQUISITION
On May 9, 2024, United entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Piedmont Bancorp, Inc., a Georgia corporation (“Piedmont”). The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Piedmont will merge with and into United (the “Merger”), with United as the surviving corporation in the Merger. Immediately following the Merger, Piedmont’s wholly-owned subsidiary, The Piedmont Bank, a state bank chartered under the laws of the State of Georgia, will merge with and into United’s wholly-owned subsidiary, United Bank, a state bank chartered under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia (the “Bank Merger”), with United Bank as the surviving bank in the Bank Merger. As of September 30, 2024, Piedmont has total assets of approximately $2.2 billion, total loans of approximately $1.9 billion, total liabilities of approximately $2.0 billion, total deposits of approximately $2.0 billion, and total shareholders’ equity of approximately $207 million. Piedmont is the holding company for The Piedmont Bank, a Georgia state-chartered bank, with sixteen locations in the State of Georgia.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
During the first quarter of 2024, United consolidated its mortgage delivery channels by consolidating George Mason’s and Crescent’s mortgage origination and sales business with United Bank. United had previously exited the third-party origination (“TPO”) business during the fourth quarter of 2023 as part of this consolidation. United continues to offer mortgage products through its bank mortgage channel with previous George Mason offices re-branded under the United umbrella. The consolidation streamlined operations and will enhance the customer experience.
Based on this consolidation of its mortgage delivery channels and an analysis performed at September 30, 2024 in accordance with ASC 280, “Segment Reporting,” United has concluded that it operates only in one reportable segment – community banking.
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INTRODUCTION
The following discussion and analysis presents the significant changes in financial condition and the results of operations of United and its subsidiaries for the periods indicated below. This discussion and the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes to unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of United Bankshares, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated. Management has evaluated all significant events and transactions that occurred after September 30, 2024, but prior to the date these financial statements were issued, for potential recognition or disclosure required in these financial statements.
This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes thereto, which are included elsewhere in this document.
USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
This discussion and analysis contains certain financial measures that are not recognized under GAAP. Under SEC Regulation G, public companies making disclosures containing financial measures that are not in accordance with GAAP must also disclose, along with each “non-GAAP” financial measure, certain additional information, including a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the closest comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as a statement of the company’s reasons for utilizing the non-GAAP financial measure.
Generally, United has presented a non-GAAP financial measure because it believes that this measure provides meaningful additional information to assist in the evaluation of United’s results of operations or financial position. Presentation of a non-GAAP financial measure is consistent with how United’s management evaluates its performance internally and this non-GAAP financial measure is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the banking industry. Specifically, this discussion contains certain references to financial measures identified as tax-equivalent (“FTE”) net interest income and return on average tangible equity. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures to be helpful in understanding United’s results of operations or financial position.
Net interest income is presented in this discussion on a tax-equivalent basis. The tax-equivalent basis adjusts for the tax-favored status of income from certain loans and investments. Although this is a non-GAAP measure, United’s management believes this measure is more widely used within the financial services industry and provides better comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. United uses this measure to monitor net interest income performance and to manage its balance sheet composition.
Average tangible equity is calculated as GAAP total shareholders’ equity minus total intangible assets. Tangible equity can thus be considered a more conservative valuation of the company. When considering net income, a return on average tangible equity can be calculated. Management provides a return on average equity to facilitate the understanding of as well as to assess the quality and composition of United’s capital structure. This measure, along with others, is used by management to analyze capital adequacy and performance.
However, this non-GAAP information should be considered supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Where the non-GAAP financial measure is used, the comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as reconciliation to that comparable GAAP financial measure, as well as a statement of the company’s reasons for utilizing the non-GAAP financial measure, can be found within this discussion and analysis. Investors should recognize that United’s presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure might not be comparable to a similarly titled measure at other companies.
APPLICATION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting and reporting policies of United conform with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In preparing the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments, which are reviewed with the Audit Committee of the Board, are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. These policies, along with the disclosures presented in the financial statement notes and in this financial review, provide information on how significant assets and liabilities are valued in the financial statements and how those values are determined. Based on the valuation techniques used and the
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sensitivity of financial statement amounts to the methods, assumptions, and estimates underlying those amounts, management has identified the determination of the allowance for loan and lease losses, the calculation of the income tax provision, and the use of fair value measurements to account for certain financial instruments to be the accounting areas that require the most subjective or complex judgments, and as such could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available.
United’s critical accounting policies involving the significant judgments and assumptions used in the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2024 were unchanged from the policies disclosed in United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 within the section “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
FINANCIAL CONDITION
United’s total assets as of September 30, 2024 were $29.86 billion, which was a decrease of $63.22 million or less than 1% from December 31, 2023. This decrease was mainly due to a decrease of $587.34 million or 14.24% in investment securities, a decrease of $9.77 million or 17.36% in loans held for sale, and a decrease of $19.20 million or 6.95% in other assets. These decreases in assets were mostly offset by a $309.89 million or 19.38% increase in cash and cash equivalents and a $262.88 million or 1.23% increase in loans, net of unearned income. Total liabilities decreased $259.80 million or 1.03% from year-end 2023. Borrowings decreased $1.26 billion or 63.63%, which were partially offset by a $1.01 billion or 4.42% increase in deposits. Shareholders’ equity increased $196.58 million or 4.12%.
The following discussion explains in more detail the changes in financial condition by major category.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2024 increased $309.89 million or 19.38% from year-end 2023. In particular, interest-bearing deposits with other banks increased $288.98 million or 21.56% as United placed more cash in an interest-bearing account with the Federal Reserve while cash and due from banks increased $20.82 million or 8.10%. Federal funds sold increased $83 thousand or 7.09%. During the first nine months of 2024, net cash of $309.17 million and $405.57 million were provided by operating and investing activities, respectively, while net cash of $404.86 million was used in financing activities. See the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for data on cash and cash equivalents provided and used in operating, investing and financing activities for the first nine months of 2024 and 2023.
Securities
Total investment securities at September 30, 2024 decreased $587.34 million or 14.24%. Securities available for sale decreased $546.88 million or 14.44%. This change in securities available for sale reflects $1.41 billion in purchases, $2.06 billion in sales, maturities and calls of securities, and an increase of $93.37 million in market value. The majority of the sales activity was related to asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities and state and political subdivision securities. Equity securities were $9.08 million at September 30, 2024, an increase of $137 thousand or 1.53% due mainly to a net increase in fair value. Other investment securities decreased $40.60 million or 12.32% from year-end 2023, due to a redemption of FHLB stock due to a decline in FHLB borrowings.
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The following table summarizes the changes in the available for sale securities since year-end 2023:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S.
Government corporations and agencies
State and political subdivisions
Mortgage-backed securities
Asset-backed securities
Single issue trust preferred securities
Other corporate securities
Total available for sale securities, at fair value
The following table summarizes the changes in the held to maturity securities since year-end 2023:
Total held to maturity securities, at amortized cost
net of allowance for credit losses of $19 thousand.
net of allowance for credit losses of $17 thousand.
At September 30, 2024, gross unrealized losses on available for sale securities were $272.56 million. Securities with the most significant gross unrealized losses at September 30, 2024 consisted primarily of agency residential mortgage-backed securities, state and political subdivision securities, agency commercial mortgage-backed securities and other corporate securities.
As of September 30, 2024, United’s available for sale mortgage-backed securities had an amortized cost of $1.80 billion, with an estimated fair value of $1.63 billion. The portfolio consisted primarily of $1.31 billion in agency residential mortgage-backed securities with a fair value of $1.18 billion, $89.25 million in non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities with an estimated fair value of $83.19 million, and $401.13 million in commercial agency mortgage-backed securities with an estimated fair value of $366.51 million.
As of September 30, 2024, United’s available for sale state and political subdivisions securities had an amortized cost of $576.77 million, with an estimated fair value of $513.61 million. The portfolio relates to securities issued by various municipalities located throughout the United States, and no securities within the portfolio were rated below investment grade as of September 30, 2024.
As of September 30, 2024, United’s available for sale corporate securities had an amortized cost of $852.12 million, with an estimated fair value of $822.82 million. The portfolio consisted of $16.41 million in single issue trust preferred securities with an estimated fair value of $14.61 million. In addition to the single issue trust preferred securities, the Company held positions in various other corporate securities, including asset-backed securities with an amortized cost of $553.81 million and a fair value of $550.60 million and other corporate securities, with an amortized cost of $281.90 million and a fair value of $257.61 million.
United’s available for sale single issue trust preferred securities had a fair value of $14.61 million as of September 30, 2024. Of the $14.61 million, $7.30 million or 49.95% were investment grade; $2.98 million or 20.43% were split rated; and $4.33 million or 29.62% were unrated. The two largest exposures accounted for 79.57% of the $14.61 million. These included Truist Bank at $7.30 million and Emigrant Bank at $4.33 million. All single issue trust preferred securities are currently receiving full scheduled principal and interest payments.
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During the third quarter of 2024, United did not recognize any credit losses on its available for sale investment securities. Management does not believe that any individual security with an unrealized loss as of September 30, 2024 is impaired. United believes the decline in value resulted from changes in market interest rates, credit spreads and liquidity, not a deterioration of credit. Based on a review of each of the securities in the available for sale investment portfolio, management concluded that it was more-likely-than-not that it would be able to realize the cost basis investment and appropriate interest payments on such securities. United has the intent and the ability to hold these securities until such time as the value recovers or the securities mature. As of September 30, 2024, there was no allowance for credit losses related to the Company’s available for sale securities. However, United acknowledges that any securities in an unrealized loss position may be sold in future periods in response to significant, unanticipated changes in asset/liability management decisions, unanticipated future market movements or business plan changes. During the third quarter of 2024, United sold approximately $197 million of available for sale securities at a loss of $6.88 million. The securities sold were comprised of approximately 66% in floating rate securities and approximately 34% in fixed rate securities. Approximately $150 million of the sale proceeds were reinvested in available for sale securities with an average yield of 5.1%.
Further information regarding the amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities, including remaining maturities as well as a more detailed discussion of management’s impairment analysis, is presented in Note 3 to the unaudited Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Loans Held for Sale
Loans held for sale were $46.49 million at September 30, 2024, a decrease of $9.77 million or 17.36% from year-end 2023. Loan sales in the secondary market exceeded originations during the first nine months of 2024. Loan originations for the first nine months of 2024 were $513.56 million while loans sales were $523.33 million.
Portfolio Loans
Loans, net of unearned income, increased $262.88 million or 1.23%. Since year-end 2023, commercial, financial and agricultural loans increased $111.38 million or less than 1% as a result of a $286.81 million or 3.45% increase in commercial real estate loans, which was partially offset by a $175.43 million or 4.91% decrease in commercial loans (not secured by real estate). Residential real estate loans increased $147.71 million or 2.80% and construction and land development loans increased $221.95 million or 7.05%. Consumer loans decreased $223.18 million or 20.96% due to a decrease in indirect automobile financing.
The following table summarizes the changes in the major loan classes since year-end 2023:
Loans held for sale
Commercial, financial, and agricultural:
Owner-occupied commercial real estate
Nonowner-occupied commercial real estate
Other commercial loans
Total commercial, financial, and agricultural
Residential real estate
Construction & land development
Consumer:
Bankcard
Other consumer
Total gross loans
Less: Unearned income
Total Loans, net of unearned income
For a further discussion of loans see Note 4 to the unaudited Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Other Assets
Other assets decreased $19.20 million or 6.95% from year-end 2023. Deferred tax assets decreased $15.61 million due to an increase in the fair value of AFS securities, dealer reserve decreased $6.35 million due to a decrease in indirect automobile financing, core deposit intangibles decreased $2.73 million due to amortization, and OREO properties decreased $2.45 million due to sales of consumer OREO properties. Partially offsetting these decreases in other assets was a $6.87 million increase in income tax receivable due to timing differences.
Deposits
Deposits represent United’s primary source of funding. Total deposits at September 30, 2024 increased $1.01 billion or 4.42%. In terms of composition, noninterest-bearing deposits decreased $110.98 million or 1.80% while interest-bearing deposits increased $1.12 billion or 6.72% from December 31, 2023.
Noninterest-bearing deposits consist of demand deposit and noninterest bearing money market (“MMDA”) account balances. The $110.98 million decrease in noninterest-bearing deposits was due mainly to a $151.64 million or 3.38% decrease in commercial noninterest-bearing deposits and a $55.76 million or 4.08% decrease in personal noninterest deposits. Public noninterest-bearing deposits increased $92.11 million or 58.48% and official checks increased $34.24 million or 57.68%.
Interest-bearing deposits consist of interest-bearing transaction, regular savings, interest-bearing MMDA, and time deposit account balances. Interest-bearing transaction accounts increased $241.72 million or 4.28% since year-end 2023. In particular, commercial interest-bearing transaction accounts increased $378.96 million and public interest-bearing transaction accounts increased $46.19 million while personal interest-bearing transaction accounts decreased $183.42 million. Regular savings accounts decreased $90.44 million or 6.72% mainly as a result of a $78.62 million decrease in personal savings accounts and a $13.73 million decrease in commercial savings accounts. Interest-bearing MMDAs increased $765.64 million or 12.06%. In particular, commercial MMDAs increased $577.54 million while personal MMDAs and public funds MMDAs increased $151.26 million and $36.83 million, respectively.
Time deposits under $100,000 increased $104.41 million or 9.79% from year-end 2023. This increase in time deposits under $100,000 was the result of a $114.63 million increase in fixed rate Certificates of Deposits (“CDs”) under $100,000. Partially offsetting this increase in deposits under $100,000 was a $5.69 million decrease in CDs under $100,000 obtained through the use of deposit listing services.
Since year-end 2023, time deposits over $100,000 increased $98.68 million or 4.36% as fixed rate CDs increased $341.79 million and public funds CDs increased $37.37 million. Partially offsetting these increases in time deposits over $100,000, was a decrease of $272.13 million in brokered CDs and a decrease of $6.11 million in CDARS over $100,000.
The table below summarizes the changes by deposit category since year-end 2023:
Demand deposits
Interest-bearing checking
Regular savings
Money market accounts
Time deposits under $100,000
Time deposits over $100,000 (1)
Total deposits
Includes time deposits of $250,000 or more of $1,094,097 and $842,118 at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
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Borrowings
Total borrowings at September 30, 2024 decreased $1.26 billion or 63.63% since year-end 2023. During the first nine months of 2024, short-term borrowings decreased $14.13 million or 7.20% due to a decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase. Long-term borrowings decreased $1.25 billion or 69.81% from year-end 2023 due to maturities of advances obtained from the FHLB during the first nine months of 2024.
The table below summarizes the change in the borrowing categories since year-end 2023:
Short-term securities sold under agreements to repurchase
Long-term FHLB advances
Issuances of trust preferred capital securities
Total borrowings
For a further discussion of borrowings see Notes 10 and 11 to the unaudited Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other liabilities at September 30, 2024 increased $5.47 million or 2.56% from year-end 2023. In particular, accrued loan expenses increased $10.26 million, which correlates to the increase in the loan portfolio, deferred compensation increased $2.45 million, and interest payable increased $1.52 million due to an increase in CDs. Partially offsetting these increases in accrued expenses and other liabilities was a decrease of $1.80 million in business franchise taxes due to timing differences and a decrease of $2.60 million in incentives payable due to payments.
Shareholders’ Equity
Shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2024 was $4.97 billion, which was an increase of $196.58 million or 4.12% from year-end 2023.
Retained earnings increased $127.96 million or 7.33% from year-end 2023. Earnings net of dividends for the first nine months of 2024 were $127.96 million.
Accumulated other comprehensive income increased $60.77 million or 23.40% from year-end 2023 due to an increase of $71.05 million in the fair value of United’s available for sale investment portfolio, net of deferred income taxes. In addition, the after-tax accretion of pension costs was $1.29 million for the first nine months of 2024. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease of $11.58 million in the fair value of cash flow hedges, net of deferred income taxes.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
The following table sets forth certain consolidated income statement information of United:
Interest income
Interest expense
Net interest income
Provision for credit losses
Noninterest income
Noninterest expense
Income before income taxes
Income taxes
Net income
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Net income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 was $95.27 million and $278.59 million, respectively, as compared to earnings of $96.16 million and $286.92 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. Earnings for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the third quarter of 2023 decreased primarily due to higher provision for credit losses and lower noninterest income partially offset by a higher net interest income and a lower income tax expense. Earnings for the first nine months of 2024 as compared to the first nine months of 2023 decreased due mainly to lower net interest income, lower noninterest income and higher noninterest expense partially offset by lower provision for credit losses and income tax expense.
Diluted earnings per share were $0.70 for the third quarter of 2024 and $0.71 for the third quarter of 2023. Diluted earnings per share were $2.06 for the first nine months of 2024 as compared to $2.12 for the first nine months of 2023.
On a linked-quarter basis, net income for the second quarter of 2024 was $96.51 million or $0.71 per diluted share. Earnings for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to the second quarter of 2024 decreased primarily due to higher provision for credit losses and income tax expense partially offset by higher net interest income and noninterest income.
As previously mentioned, United announced during the second quarter of 2024 that it entered into a definitive merger agreement with Piedmont. Expenses of $332 thousand and $1.61 million related to the announced Piedmont acquisition were recorded in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, United sold approximately $197 million and $299 million of AFS investment securities at a loss of $6.88 million and $13.69 million, respectively. Additionally, during the third quarter of 2024, United recognized a net gain of $7.09 million on the sale of its remaining mortgage rights (“MSRs”) associated with a loan portfolio of $1.12 billion. The second quarter of 2024 included a $6.85 million gain on a VISA share exchange.
For the third quarter of 2024, United’s annualized return on average assets was 1.28% and return on average shareholders’ equity was 7.72% as compared to 1.31% and 8.14% for the third quarter of 2023. United’s annualized return on average assets was 1.32% and return on average shareholders’ equity was 7.99% for the second quarter of 2024. United’s annualized return on average assets for the first nine months of 2024 was 1.26% and return on average shareholders’ equity was 7.65% as compared to 1.31% and 8.27% for the first nine months of 2023. For the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, United’s annualized return on average tangible equity, a non-GAAP measure, was 12.59% and 12.57%, respectively, as compared to 13.71% and 14.03% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2023, respectively. United’s annualized return on average tangible equity was 13.12% for the second quarter of 2024.
Return on Average Tangible Equity:
(a) Net Income (GAAP)
(b) Number of Days
Average Total Shareholders’ Equity (GAAP)
Less: Average Total Intangibles
(c) Average Tangible Equity (non-GAAP)
Return on Average Tangible Equity (non-GAAP) [(a) / (b)] x 366 or 365/ (c)
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Net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 was $230.26 million, which was relatively flat from the third quarter of 2023, increasing $1.80 million or less than 1%. The slight increase of $1.80 million in net interest income occurred because total interest income increased $25.81 million while total interest expense increased $24.01 million from the third quarter of 2023. Net interest income for the first nine months of 2024 was $678.46 million, a decrease of $11.77 million or 1.71% from the first nine months of 2023. The decrease of $11.77 million in net interest income occurred because total interest income increased $93.94 million while total interest expense increased $105.72 million from the first nine months of 2023. On a linked quarter basis, net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 increased $4.54 million, or 2.01%, from the second quarter of 2024. Total interest income for the third quarter of 2024 increased $8.54 million while total interest expense increased $4.00 million from the second quarter of 2024.
The provision for credit losses was $6.94 million and $18.46 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, while the provision for credit losses was $5.95 million and $24.28 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. The provision for credit losses was $5.78 million for the second quarter of 2024.
For the third quarter of 2024, noninterest income was $31.94 million, which was a decrease of $1.72 million or 5.11% from the third quarter of 2023. This decrease in noninterest income for the third quarter of 2024 was due mainly to decreases of $6.53 million and $3.01 million, respectively, in net losses on investment securities transactions and in income from mortgage banking activities driven by lower mortgage loan sales volume partially offset by the gain on the sale of MSRs. Noninterest income for the first nine months of 2024 was $94.38 million which was a decrease of $7.21 million or 7.09% from the first nine months of 2023. This decrease in noninterest income for the first nine months of 2024 was due mainly to decreases of $8.10 million and $4.01 million, respectively, in income from mortgage banking activities driven by lower mortgage loan sales volume and mortgage loan servicing income due mainly to a decline in net gains on the sales of MSRs and a lower amount of loans serviced. Partially offsetting these decreases were increases in fees from brokerage services and income from bank-owned life insurance as well as lower net losses on investment securities transactions. On a linked quarter basis, noninterest income increased $1.72 million or 5.69% primarily due the previously mentioned gain on the sale of MSRs and increased income from mortgage banking activities partially offset by an increase in net losses on investment securities transactions.
For the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, noninterest expense was relatively flat from the third quarter and first nine months of 2023, increasing $109 thousand and $2.92 million, respectively. Both of these increases were less than 1%. For the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023, several categories of noninterest expense increased which were largely offset by decreases in other categories. For the first nine months of 2024, the increase of $2.92 million in noninterest expense from the first nine months of 2023 was driven primarily by increases of $3.30 million in employee compensation and $2.10 million in FDIC insurance expense partially offset by decreases of $2.21 million in mortgage loan servicing expense and $1.42 million in other expense. The increase in employee compensation was driven by higher employee incentives, base salaries, and employee severance associated with the previously announced mortgage delivery channel consolidation partially offset by lower employee commissions related to mortgage banking production. The increase in FDIC insurance expense was driven by $1.81 million of expense recognized in the first quarter of 2024 for the FDIC special assessment. The decrease in mortgage loan servicing expense was driven by the sales of MSRs. The decrease in other noninterest expense was primarily due to a decrease in the expense for the reserve for unfunded loan commitments driven by a decrease in the outstanding balance of loan commitments. On a linked quarter basis, noninterest expense was relatively flat from the second quarter of 2024, increasing $565 thousand or less than 1%.
Income taxes for the third quarter of 2024 were $24.65 million as compared to $24.78 million for the third quarter of 2023. Income tax expense was $18.88 million for the second quarter of 2024. For the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, income tax expense was $64.93 million and $72.68 million, respectively. For the quarters ended September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024, United’s effective tax rate was 20.56% and 16.36%, respectively. For the quarter ended September 30, 2023, United’s effective tax rate was 20.49%. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2024 and 2023 was 18.90% and 20.21%, respectively.
The following discussion explains in more detail the consolidated results of operations by major category.
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Net Interest Income
Net interest income represents the primary component of United’s earnings. It is the difference between interest income from earning assets and interest expense incurred to fund these assets. Net interest income is impacted by changes in the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as changes in market interest rates. Such changes, and their impact on net interest income in 2024 and 2023, are presented below.
Net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 was $230.26 million, which was relatively flat from the third quarter of 2023, increasing $1.80 million less than 1%. The increase of $1.80 million in net interest income occurred because total interest income increased $25.81 million while total interest expense increased $24.01 million from the third quarter of 2023. Net interest income for the first nine months of 2024 was $678.46 million, a decrease of $11.77 million or 1.71% from the first nine months of 2023. The decrease of $11.77 million in net interest income occurred because total interest income increased $93.94 million while total interest expense increased $105.72 million from the first nine months of 2023. On a linked-quarter basis, net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 increased $4.54 million or 2.01% from the second quarter of 2024. The $4.54 million increase in net interest income occurred because total interest income increased $8.54 million while total interest expense increased $4.00 million from the second quarter of 2024.
For the purpose of this remaining discussion, net interest income is presented on a tax-equivalent basis to provide a comparison among all types of interest earning assets. The tax-equivalent basis adjusts for the tax-favored status of income from certain loans and investments. Although this is a non-GAAP measure, United’s management believes this measure is more widely used within the financial services industry and provides better comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. United uses this measure to monitor net interest income performance and to manage its balance sheet composition.
Tax-equivalent net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 was flat from the third quarter of 2023, increasing $1.80 million, or less than 1%. The slight increase in tax-equivalent net interest income was primarily due to a higher yield on average net loans and loans held for sale, a decrease in average long-term borrowings, organic loan growth, and an increase in average short-term investments. This increase in tax-equivalent net interest income was partially offset by the impact of deposit rate repricing and an increase in average interest-bearing deposits. The yield on average earning assets increased 33 basis points from the third quarter of 2023 to 5.85% driven by an increase in the yield on average net loans and loans held for sale of 28 basis points. Average long-term borrowings decreased $842.16 million, or 52.94%, from the third quarter of 2023. Average earning assets for the third quarter of 2024 increased $363.70 million, or 1.41%, from the third quarter of 2023 due to a $610.37 million increase in average net loans and loans held for sale and a $535.24 million increase in average short-term investments partially offset by a $781.91 million decrease in average investment securities. The yield on average interest-bearing deposits increased 58 basis points from the third quarter of 2023. Average interest-bearing deposits increased $1.41 billion, or 8.79%, from the third quarter of 2023. The net interest margin for the third quarter of 2024 and 2023 was 3.52% and 3.54%, respectively.
Tax-equivalent net interest income for the first nine months of 2024 decreased $12.36 million, or 1.78%, from the first nine months of 2023. The decrease in tax-equivalent net interest income was primarily due to higher interest expense driven by deposit rate repricing, an increase in average interest-bearing deposits, and a decrease in acquired loan accretion income. These decreases were partially offset by a higher yield on average net loans and loans held for sale, organic loan growth, and a decrease in average long-term borrowings. The yield on average interest-bearing deposits increased 88 basis points from the first nine months of 2023. Average interest-bearing deposits increased $1.37 billion from the first nine months of 2023. Acquired loan accretion income for the first nine months of 2024 of $7.29 million was a decrease of $1.24 million from the first nine months of 2023. The yield on average earning assets increased 46 basis points from the first nine months of 2023 to 5.78% driven by an increase in the yield on average net loans and loans held for sale of 39 basis points. Average net loans and loans held for sale increased $773.33 million from the first nine months of 2023. Average long-term borrowings decreased $924.21 million from the first nine months of 2023. Additionally, average investment securities decreased $857.35 million, or 18.84%, from the first nine months of 2023 while the yield on average investment securities increased 36 basis points from the first nine months of 2023. The net interest margin for the first nine months of 2024 and 2023 was 3.49% and 3.56%, respectively.
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On a linked-quarter basis, tax-equivalent net interest income for the third quarter of 2024 also increased $4.50 million, or 1.99%, from the second quarter of 2024. The increase in tax-equivalent net interest income was driven by an increase in average short-term investments, a higher yield on average net loans and loans held for sale, and a decrease in average long-term borrowings partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing deposits as well as a higher average rate paid on deposits. Average short-term investments increased $457.01 million, or 49.12%, from the second quarter of 2024 primarily driven by cash received from deposit growth. The yield on average net loans and loans held for sale increased 6 basis points to 6.20% for the third quarter of 2024. As previously disclosed, the second quarter of 2024 included a $654 thousand interest recovery from a commercial real estate nonaccrual loan payoff. Average long-term borrowings decreased $541.80 million, or 41.99%, from the second quarter of 2024. Average interest-bearing deposits increased $659.24 million, or 3.94%, from the second quarter of 2024. The yield on average interest-bearing deposits increased 10 basis points to 3.28% for the third quarter of 2024. The net interest margin of 3.52% for the third quarter of 2024 was an increase of 2 basis points from the net interest margin of 3.50% for the second quarter of 2024.
United’s tax-equivalent net interest income also includes the impact of acquisition accounting fair value adjustments. The following table provides the discount/premium and net accretion impact to tax-equivalent net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2024, September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024 and the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023:
Loan accretion
Certificates of deposit
Long-term borrowings
Total
Tax-equivalent net interest income
The following tables reconcile the difference between net interest income and tax-equivalent net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2024, September 30, 2023 and June 30, 2024 and the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023.
Net interest income, GAAP basis
Tax-equivalent adjustment (1)
The tax-equivalent adjustment combines amounts of interest income on federally nontaxable loans and investment securities using the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 and the three months ended June 30, 2024. All interest income on loans and investment securities was subject to state income taxes.
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The following table shows the unaudited consolidated daily average balance of major categories of assets and liabilities for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, with the interest and rate earned or paid on such amount. The interest income and yields on federally nontaxable loans and investment securities are presented on a tax-equivalent basis using the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. Interest income on all loans and investment securities was subject to state income taxes.
ASSETS
Earning Assets:
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell and other short-term investments
Investment Securities:
Taxable
Tax-exempt
Total Securities
Loans, net of unearned income (2)(3)
Allowance for loan losses
Net loans
Total earning assets
Other assets
TOTAL ASSETS
LIABILITIES
Interest-Bearing Liabilities:
Interest-bearing deposits
Short-term borrowings
Total Interest-Bearing Liabilities
Noninterest-bearing deposits
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
TOTAL LIABILITIES
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
NET INTEREST INCOME
INTEREST RATE SPREAD
NET INTEREST MARGIN
The interest income and the yields on federally nontaxable loans and investment securities are presented on a tax-equivalent basis using the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%.
Nonaccruing loans are included in the daily average loan amounts outstanding.
Loans held for sale and leases are included in the daily average loan amounts outstanding.
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The following table shows the unaudited consolidated daily average balance of major categories of assets and liabilities for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024, respectively, with the interest and rate earned or paid on such amount. The interest income and yields on federally nontaxable loans and investment securities are presented on a tax-equivalent basis using the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% for the three-month period ended September 30, 2024 and June 30, 2024. Interest income on all loans and investment securities was subject to state income taxes.
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The following table shows the unaudited consolidated daily average balance of major categories of assets and liabilities for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, with the interest and rate earned or paid on such amount. The interest income and yields on federally nontaxable loans and investment securities are presented on a tax-equivalent basis using the statutory federal income tax rate of 21% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2024 and 2023. Interest income on all loans and investment securities was subject to state income taxes.
Federal funds sold and securities repurchased under agreements to resell and other short-term investments
Non-interest bearing deposits
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Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for credit losses was $6.94 million and $18.46 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to a provision for credit losses of $5.95 million and $24.28 million for third quarter and first nine months of 2023, respectively. On a linked-quarter basis, the provision for credit losses for the second quarter of 2024 was $5.78 million. United’s provision for credit losses relates to its portfolio of loans and leases, held-to-maturity securities and interest receivable on loans which are discussed in more detail in the following paragraphs.
For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the provision for loan and lease losses was $6.94 million as compared to a provision for loan and lease losses of $5.95 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2023. The higher amount of provision expense for the third quarter of 2024 from the third quarter of 2023 was primarily due to a greater amount of charge-offs in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2023. The provision for loan and lease losses for the first nine months of 2024 was $18.46 million as compared to a provision for loan and lease losses of $24.28 million for the first nine months of 2023. The lower amount of provision expense for the first nine months of 2024 compared to the first nine months of 2023 was mainly due to qualitative adjustment factors and reasonable and supportable forecast assumptions regarding future economic expectations. Net charge-offs were $3.60 million for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to net charge-offs of $1.78 million for the same quarter in 2023. Net charge-offs for the first nine months of 2024 were $6.93 million as compared to net charge-offs of $4.14 million for the first nine months of 2023. The higher amount of net charge-offs for 2024 as compared to 2023 was primarily due to increased charge-offs within the consumer loan portfolio. On a linked-quarter basis, the provision for loan and lease losses was $6.94 million for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to a provision for loan and lease losses of $5.78 million for the second quarter of 2024. The higher amount of provision expense on a linked-quarter basis was due mainly to increased charge-offs within the consumer loan portfolio. Net charge-offs were $1.26 million for the second quarter of 2024.
Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans and leases, net of unearned income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 were 0.07% and 0.04% as compared to annualized net charge-offs of 0.03% for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans and leases, net of unearned income for the second quarter of 2024 were 0.02%.
The following table shows a summary of United’s nonperforming assets including nonperforming loans and other real estate owned (“OREO”) at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Nonaccrual loans
Loans past due 90 days or more
Total nonperforming loans
Other real estate owned
Total nonperforming assets
The increase of $21.53 million in nonaccrual loans from December 31, 2023 to September 30, 2024 was due mainly to the transfer to nonaccrual of one significant commercial lending relationship and one large residential real estate relationship.
United maintains an allowance for loan and lease losses and a reserve for lending-related commitments. The combined allowance for loan losses and reserve for lending-related commitments is considered the allowance for credit losses. At September 30, 2024, the allowance for credit losses was $308.74 million as compared to $303.94 million at December 31, 2023.
At September 30, 2024, the allowance for loan and lease losses was $270.77 million as compared to $259.24 million at December 31, 2023. The increase in the allowance for loan and lease losses was primarily driven by increased outstanding loan balances for the commercial real estate non-owner occupied, real estate construction and development, and residential real estate portfolios as well as increased reasonable and supportable forecast adjustments for the commercial real estate
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nonowner-occupied office portfolio. As a percentage of loans and leases, net of unearned income, the allowance for loan losses was 1.25% at September 30, 2024 and 1.21% at December 31, 2023. The ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses to nonperforming loans and leases or coverage ratio was 415.03% and 569.78% at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The decrease in this ratio was due mainly to an increase in nonperforming loans.
United continues to evaluate risks which may impact its loan and lease portfolios. Reserves are initially determined based on losses identified from the PD/LGD and Cohort models which utilize the Company’s historical information. Then, any qualitative adjustments are applied to account for the Company’s view of current conditions, the future and other factors.
The third quarter of 2024 qualitative adjustments include analyses of the following:
Current conditions – United considered the impact of inflation, interest rates, the banking regulatory environment, geopolitical conflict and the presidential election when making determinations related to factor adjustments for the external environment. United also considered portfolio trends related to economic and business conditions, collateral values for dependent loans; past due, nonaccrual and graded loans and leases; and concentrations of credit.
Reasonable and supportable forecasts – The forecast is determined on a portfolio-by-portfolio basis by relating the correlation of real GDP and the unemployment rate to loss rates to forecasts of those variables. The reasonable and supportable forecast selection is subjective in nature and requires more judgment compared to the other components of the allowance. Assumptions for the economic variables were the following:
The forecast for real GDP in the third quarter remained relatively consistent with the second quarter projections of 2.00% for 2024 (a decrease of 0.10% from the second quarter), 2.00% for 2025 and 2.00% for 2026. The unemployment rate forecast increased by 0.40% for 2024 to 4.40% while 2025 shifted up slightly to 4.40% from 4.20% and 2026 also increased slightly to 4.30% from 4.10%.
Greater risk of loss is probable in the office portfolio due to continued hybrid and remote work that may be exacerbated by future economic conditions as well as higher interest rates, cap rates and the uncertainty surrounding appraised values of the collateral. United recognized this greater risk of loss by increasing the loss multiple relating to the historical loss experience of the office portfolio.
Reversion to historical loss data occurs via a straight-line method during the year following the one-year reasonable and supportable forecast period.
United’s review of the allowance for loan and lease losses at September 30, 2024 produced increased reserves in three of the four loan categories as compared to December 31, 2023. The allowance related to the commercial, financial & agricultural loan pool, consisting of the owner and non-owner occupied commercial real estate and other commercial loan segments, increased $6.33 million due to increased outstanding balances, increased allocations for individually assessed loans and increased reasonable and supportable forecast adjustments particularly as it pertains to office loans. The residential real estate segment reserve increased $5.61 million due primarily to increased outstanding balances while also impacted by a slight downgrade in the adjustment for past due, nonaccrual and graded loans. The real estate construction and development loan segment reserve increased $2.35 million due to increased outstanding balances. The consumer loan segment reserve decreased $2.76 million primarily due to a decrease in outstanding balances.
An allowance is established for estimated lifetime losses for loans that are individually assessed. Nonperforming commercial loans and leases are regularly reviewed to identify expected credit losses. A loan is individually assessed for expected credit losses when the loan does not share similar characteristics with other loans in the portfolio. Measuring expected credit losses of a loan requires judgment and estimates, and the eventual outcomes may differ from those estimates. Expected credit losses are measured based upon the present value of expected future cash flows from the loan discounted at the loan’s effective rate or the fair value of collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. When the selected measure is less than the recorded investment in the loan, an expected credit loss has occurred. The allowance for loans and leases that were individually assessed was $19.43 million at September 30, 2024 and $13.15 million at December 31, 2023. In comparison to the prior year-end, this element of the allowance increased $6.28 million due to the downgrade of a commercial real estate non-owner occupied relationship secured by office collateral as well as an unsecured relationship with a governmental-type entity.
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Management believes that the allowance for credit losses of $308.74 million at September 30, 2024 is adequate to provide for expected losses on existing loans and lending-related commitments based on information currently available. United’s loan administration policies are focused on the risk characteristics of the loan portfolio in terms of loan approval and credit quality. The commercial loan portfolio is monitored for possible concentrations of credit in one or more industries. Management has lending limits as a percentage of capital per type of credit concentration in an effort to ensure adequate diversification within the portfolio. Most of United’s commercial loans are secured by real estate located in West Virginia, southeastern Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. It is the opinion of management that these commercial loans do not pose any unusual risks and that adequate consideration has been given to these loans in establishing the allowance for credit losses.
The provision for credit losses related to held to maturity securities for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 and 2023 was immaterial. The allowance for credit losses related to held to maturity securities was $19 thousand and $17 thousand as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. There was no provision for credit losses recorded on available for sale investment securities for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 and 2023 and no allowance for credit losses on available for sale investment securities as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
Management is not aware of any potential problem loans or leases, trends or uncertainties, which it reasonably expects, will materially impact future operating results, liquidity, or capital resources which have not been disclosed. Additionally, management has disclosed all known material credits, which cause management to have serious doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply with the loan repayment schedules.
Other Income
Other income consists of all revenues, which are not included in interest and fee income related to earning assets. Noninterest income has been and will continue to be an important factor for improving United’s profitability. Recognizing the importance, management continues to evaluate areas where noninterest income can be enhanced.
Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2024 was $31.94 million, a decrease of $1.72 million or 5.11% from the third quarter of 2023. This decrease was driven by net losses on the sale of investment securities and a decrease in mortgage banking income partially offset by increases in mortgage loan servicing income and fees from brokerage services. Noninterest income for the first nine months of 2024 was $94.38 million, a decrease of $7.21 million or 7.09% from the first nine months of 2023. This decrease was driven by decreases in mortgage loan servicing income and mortgage banking income partially offset by an increase in fees from brokerage services, higher income from bank-owned life insurance and lower net losses on investment securities transactions.
Income from mortgage banking activities totaled $4.54 million for the third quarter of 2024 compared to $7.56 million for the same period of 2023, a decline of $3.01 million or 39.86%. For the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, income from mortgage banking activities was $13.74 million and $21.85 million, respectively. The decreases for 2024 as compared to 2023 were due mainly to lower mortgage loan production. For the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, mortgage loan sales were $171.32 million and $217.63 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, mortgage loan sales were $523.33 million and $632.85 million, respectively. Mortgage loans originated for sale were $151.33 million and $513.56 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, respectively, as compared to $185.95 million and $635.58 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2023, respectively.
Mortgage loan servicing income for the third quarter of 2024 increased $6.54 million or 772.93% from the third quarter of 2023. This increase was driven primarily by the aforementioned $7.09 million gain on the sale of MSRs in the third quarter of 2024. Mortgage loan servicing income for the first nine months of 2024 decreased $4.01 million or 30.90% from the first nine months of 2023. The first nine months of 2024 also included the $7.09 million net gain on the sale of MSRs in the third quarter of 2024 while the first nine months of 2023 included net gains on the sale of MSRs of $8.31 million. In addition, mortgage loan servicing income declined in the first nine months of 2024 due to lower mortgage balances serviced since the sale of the MSRs in 2023.
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United recorded a net loss on investment securities of $6.72 million for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to a net loss on investment securities of $181 thousand for the third quarter of 2023. For the first nine months of 2024, net losses on investment securities were $7.03 million as compared to net losses on investment securities of $7.92 million for the first nine months of 2023. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2024, United sold approximately $197 million and $299 million of AFS investment securities at a loss of $6.88 million and $13.69 million, respectively. Additionally, during the first nine months of 2024, United recognized a $6.91 million gain on the VISA share exchange, of which $4.60 million was realized through the sale of eligible shares and the remainder of which related to shares held at fair value at the end of the second quarter which were eventually sold in the third quarter of 2024. In the second quarter of 2023, United sold approximately $187 million of AFS investment securities resulting in a net loss of $7.24 million.
Fees from brokerage services for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 increased $640 thousand or 14.44% and $2.75 million or 21.89%, respectively, from the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher volume.
Income from bank-owned life insurance for the first nine months of 2024 increased $1.52 million or 23.54% from the first nine months of 2023. This increase was due mainly to an increase in the cash surrender value of insurance policies as well as death proceeds of $690 thousand recognized in the third quarter of 2024.
On a linked-quarter basis, noninterest income for the third quarter of 2024 increased of $1.72 million, or 5.69%, from the second quarter of 2024 due mainly to the previously mentioned gain on the sale of MSRs and increased income from mortgage banking activities partially offset by an increase in net losses on investment securities transactions. Income from mortgage banking activities increased $643 thousand primarily due to higher mortgage loan sale volume and a higher quarter-end valuation of mortgage loans held for sale. Additionally, in comparison to the second quarter of 2024, an increase in mortgage loan servicing income was mostly offset by higher net losses on investment securities. Mortgage loan servicing income was $7.39 million for the third quarter of 2024, an increase of $6.60 million from the second quarter of 2024. During the third quarter of 2024, as previously mentioned, United sold its remaining MSRs with an aggregate unpaid principal balance of approximately $1.1 billion at a gain of $7.09 million. Net losses on investment securities were $6.72 million for the third quarter of 2024 due primarily to a net loss of $6.88 million on approximately $197 million of AFS investment securities sold in the third quarter of 2024 compared to net losses of $218 thousand for the second quarter of 2024.
Other Expenses
Just as management continues to evaluate areas where noninterest income can be enhanced, it strives to improve the efficiency of its operations to reduce costs. Other expenses include all items of expense other than interest expense, the provision for credit losses, and income taxes. Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2024 was $135.34 million, which was relatively flat from the third quarter of 2023, increasing $109 thousand or less than 1%. For the first nine months of 2024, noninterest expense was $410.86 million, which was also relatively flat from the first nine months of 2023, increasing $2.92 million or less than 1%.
Employee compensation for the first nine months of 2024 increased $3.30 million or 1.90% from the first nine months of 2023. The increase in employee compensation was driven by higher employee incentives, base salaries and employee severance related to the consolidation of the mortgage delivery channels. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease in commissions related to lower mortgage banking production.
Employee benefits expense for the first nine months of 2024 increased $1.31 million or 3.38% as compared to the first nine months of 2023. This increase was primarily due to higher amounts of expense for postretirement benefits partially offset by lower health insurance costs.
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OREO expense for the first nine months of 2024 decreased $636 thousand or 54.50% as compared to the first nine months of 2023. This decrease was primarily due to fewer declines in the fair value of OREO properties.
Equipment expense for the third quarter of 2024 increased $641 thousand or 8.94% as compared to the third quarter of 2023. This increase was primarily due to an increase in maintenance expense partially offset by lower depreciation expense.
Mortgage loan servicing expense and impairment expense for the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 decreased $648 thousand or 61.66% and $2.21 million or 47.58%, respectively, from the third quarter and first nine months of 2023. The decreases in 2024 were due primarily to a lower amount of mortgage loans serviced as a result of the sale of MSRs in the third quarters of 2024 and 2023.
FDIC insurance expense for the first nine months of 2024 increased $2.10 million or 15.24% from the first nine months of 2023. The increase in FDIC insurance expense was driven by $1.81 million of expense recognized in the first quarter of 2024 for the FDIC special assessment.
Other expense for the third quarter of 2024 increased $1.08 million or 3.52% from the third quarter of 2023. This increase was driven by higher amounts of certain general operating expenses mostly offset by smaller decreases in several other categories of noninterest expense. Other expense for the first nine months of 2024 decreased $1.42 million or 1.48% from the first nine months of 2023. Within other expenses, the most significant decrease was $4.31 million in the expense for the reserve for unfunded loan commitments. In addition, advertising expense decreased $1.54 million and amortization of intangibles declined $1.11 million. Partially offsetting these decreases were increases in the amortization of investment tax credits of $2.23 million and merger expenses of $1.61 million as well as higher amounts of certain other general operating expenses.
On a linked-quarter basis, noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2024 was relatively flat from the second quarter of 2024, increasing $565 thousand, or less than 1%. The slight increase in noninterest expense was primarily driven by increases in employee benefits of $937 thousand and other noninterest expense of $847 thousand. The increase in employee benefits was primarily driven by higher postretirement benefit costs. The increase in other noninterest expense from the second quarter of 2024 was driven by higher amounts of certain general operating expenses mostly offset by smaller decreases in several other categories of noninterest expense. Within other noninterest expense, merger-related expenses for the third quarter of 2024 were $332 thousand compared to $1.27 million for the second quarter of 2024. Partially offsetting the increases in noninterest expense were decreases of $720 thousand in FDIC insurance expense due mainly to an adjustment for the special assessment in the second quarter of 2024 as well as a lower assessment rate and $608 thousand in mortgage loan servicing expense and impairment due to a lower amount of loans serviced.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense for the third quarter of 2024 was flat from the third quarter of 2023, decreasing $130 thousand, or less than 1%, primarily due to slightly lower pre-tax earnings partially offset by a slightly higher effective tax rate. On a linked-quarter basis, income tax expense increased $5.77 million from the second quarter of 2024. This increase was driven by higher pre-tax earnings and the impact of discrete tax benefits recognized in the second quarter of 2024. For the first nine months of 2024, income tax expense was $64.93 million as compared to $72.68 million in the first nine months of 2023. This decrease was primarily due to lower pre-tax earnings and the impact of discrete tax benefits recognized in the second quarter of 2024. United’s effective tax rate was 20.56% for the third quarter of 2024, 20.49% for the third quarter of 2023 and 16.36% for the second quarter of 2024. For the first nine months of 2024 and 2023, United’s effective tax rate was 18.90% and 20.21%, respectively.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
In the opinion of management, United maintains liquidity that is sufficient to satisfy its depositors’ requirements and the credit needs of its customers. Like all banks, United depends upon its ability to renew maturing deposits and other liabilities on a daily basis and to acquire new funds in a variety of markets. A significant source of funds available to United is “core deposits”. Core deposits include certain demand deposits, statement and special savings and NOW accounts. These deposits are relatively stable, and they are the lowest cost source of funds available to United. Short-term borrowings have also been a significant source of funds. These include federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase as well as advances from the FHLB. Repurchase agreements represent funds which are obtained as the result of a competitive bidding process.
Liquid assets are cash and those items readily convertible to cash. All banks must maintain sufficient balances of cash and near-cash items to meet the day-to-day demands of customers and United’s cash needs. Other than cash and due from banks, the available for sale securities portfolio and maturing loans are the primary sources of liquidity.
The goal of liquidity management is to ensure the ability to access funding which enables United to efficiently satisfy the cash flow requirements of depositors and borrowers and meet United’s cash needs. Liquidity is managed by monitoring funds’ availability from a number of primary sources. Substantial funding is available from cash and cash equivalents, unused short-term borrowing and a geographically dispersed network of branches providing access to a diversified and substantial retail deposit market.
Short-term needs can be met through a wide array of outside sources such as correspondent and downstream correspondent federal funds and utilization of Federal Home Loan Bank advances.
Other sources of liquidity available to United to provide long-term as well as short-term funding alternatives, in addition to FHLB advances, are long-term certificates of deposit, lines of credit, borrowings that are secured by bank premises or stock of United’s subsidiaries and issuances of trust preferred securities. In the normal course of business, United through its Asset Liability Committee evaluates these as well as other alternative funding strategies that may be utilized to meet short-term and long-term funding needs.
During the first nine months of 2024, United increased its interest-bearing deposit balance at the FRB by $330.04 million to $1.57 billion. The change in the balance at the FRB was mostly the result of a $1.01 billion increase in total deposits and $640.84 million of net sales, maturities, and paydowns in the available for sale debt securities portfolio partially offset by a $1.25 billion decrease in FHLB advances.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, cash of $309.17 million was provided by operating activities due mainly to net income of $278.59 million. Net cash of $405.57 million was provided by investing activities which was primarily due to $661.41 million of net proceeds from the sales of investment securities over purchases partially offset by portfolio loan growth of $262.65 million. During the first nine months of 2024, net cash of $404.86 million was used in financing activities due primarily to a net repayment of $1.25 billion in FHLB advances and cash dividends paid of $150.54 million partially offset by growth in deposits of $1.01 billion. The net effect of the cash flow activities was an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $309.89 million for the first nine months of 2024.
At September 30, 2024, United had an unused borrowing amount at the FHLB of approximately $8.19 billion subject to delivery of collateral after certain trigger points, $4.03 billion without the delivery of additional collateral. United has various unused lines of credit available from certain of its correspondent banks in the aggregate amount of $280 million, all of which was available at September 30, 2024. United also has a $20 million unsecured, revolving line of credit with an unrelated financial institution to provide for general liquidity needs, all of which was available at September 30, 2024. At September 30, 2024, United’s borrowing capacity for the FRB Discount Window was $4.59 billion. United did not have any borrowings from the FRB’s Discount Window, or its new Bank Term Funding Program, during the first nine months of 2024.
United anticipates it can meet its obligations over the next 12 months and has no material commitments for capital expenditures. United also has lines of credit available. See Notes 10 and 11 to the accompanying unaudited Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more details regarding the amounts available to United under lines of credit.
The Asset Liability Committee monitors liquidity to ascertain that a liquidity position within certain prescribed parameters is maintained. No changes are anticipated in the policies of United’s Asset Liability Committee.
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United’s capital position is financially sound. United seeks to maintain a proper relationship between capital and total assets to support growth and sustain earnings. United has historically generated attractive returns on shareholders’ equity. United is well-capitalized based upon regulatory guidelines. United’s risk-based capital ratio is 16.18% at September 30, 2024 while its Common Equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital and leverage ratios are 13.80%, 13.80% and 11.73%, respectively. The September 30, 2024 ratios reflects United’s election of a five-year transition provision, allowed by the Federal Reserve Board and other federal banking agencies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, to delay for two years the full impact of CECL on regulatory capital, followed by a three-year transition period. The regulatory requirements for a well-capitalized financial institution are a risk-based capital ratio of 10.0%, a Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.5%, a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.0% and a leverage ratio of 5.0%.
Total shareholders’ equity was $4.97 billion at September 30, 2024, which was an increase of $196.58 million or 4.12% from December 31, 2023. This increase is primarily due to an increase of $127.96 million in retained earnings (net income less dividends declared).
United’s equity to assets ratio was 16.64% at September 30, 2024 as compared to 15.94% at December 31, 2023. The primary capital ratio, capital and reserves to total assets and reserves, was 17.49% at September 30, 2024 as compared to 16.79% at December 31, 2023. United’s average equity to average asset ratio was 16.64% for the third quarter of 2024 as compared to 16.12% the third quarter of 2023. United’s average equity to average asset ratio was 16.52% for the first nine months of 2024 as compared to 15.81% for the first nine months of 2023. All of these financial measurements reflect a financially sound position.
During the third quarter of 2024, United’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.37 per share. Cash dividends were $1.11 per common share for the first nine months of 2024. Total cash dividends declared were $50.21 million for the third quarter of 2024 and $150.63 million for the first nine months of 2024 as compared to $48.71 million for the third quarter of 2023 and $146.05 million for the first nine months of 2023, respectively.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The objective of United’s Asset Liability Management function is to maintain consistent growth in net interest income within United’s policy guidelines. This objective is accomplished through the management of balance sheet liquidity and interest rate risk exposures due to changes in economic conditions, interest rate levels and customer preferences.
Interest Rate Risk
Management considers interest rate risk to be United’s most significant market risk. Interest rate risk is the exposure to adverse changes in United’s net interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. United’s earnings are largely dependent on the effective management of interest rate risk.
Management of interest rate risk focuses on maintaining consistent growth in net interest income within Board-approved policy limits. United’s Asset/Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”), which includes senior management representatives and reports to the Board, monitors and manages interest rate risk to maintain an acceptable level of change to net interest income as a result of changes in interest rates. Policy established for interest rate risk is stated in terms of the change in net interest income over a one-year and two-year horizon given an immediate and sustained increase or decrease in interest rates. The current limits approved by the Board are structured on a staged basis with each stage requiring specific actions.
United employs a variety of measurement techniques to identify and manage its exposure to changing interest rates. One such technique utilizes an earnings simulation model to analyze the sensitivity of net interest income to movements in interest rates. The model is based on actual cash flows and repricing characteristics for on and off-balance sheet instruments and incorporates market-based assumptions regarding the impact of changing interest rates on the prepayment rate of certain assets and liabilities. The model also includes executive management projections for activity levels in product lines offered
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by United. Assumptions based on the historical behavior of deposit rates and balances in relation to changes in interest rates are also incorporated into the model. Rate scenarios could involve parallel or nonparallel shifts in the yield curve, depending on historical, current, and expected conditions, as well as the need to capture any material effects of explicit or embedded options. These assumptions are inherently uncertain and, as a result, the model cannot precisely measure net interest income or precisely predict the impact of fluctuations in interest rates on net interest income. Actual results will differ from simulated results due to timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate changes as well as changes in market conditions and management’s strategies.
Interest sensitive assets and liabilities are defined as those assets or liabilities that mature or are repriced within a designated time frame. The principal function of managing interest rate risk is to maintain an appropriate relationship between those assets and liabilities that are sensitive to changing market interest rates. The difference between rate sensitive assets and rate sensitive liabilities for specified periods of time is known as the “GAP.” Earnings-simulation analysis captures not only the potential of these interest sensitive assets and liabilities to mature or reprice, but also the probability that they will do so. Moreover, earnings-simulation analysis considers the relative sensitivities of these balance sheet items and projects their behavior over an extended period of time. United closely monitors the sensitivity of its assets and liabilities on an on-going basis and projects the effect of various interest rate changes on its net interest margin.
The following table shows United’s estimated earnings sensitivity profile as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
Change in Interest Rates
(basis points)
+200
+100
-100
-200
At September 30, 2024, given an immediate, sustained 100 basis point upward shock to the yield curve used in the simulation model, net interest income for United is estimated to increase by 1.82% over one year as compared to an increase by 0.24% at December 31, 2023. A 200 basis point immediate, sustained upward shock in the yield curve would increase net interest income by an estimated 2.82% over one year as of September 30, 2024, as compared to a decrease of 0.28% as of December 31, 2023. A 100 basis point immediate, sustained downward shock in the yield curve would increase net interest income by an estimated 0.22% over one year as of September 30, 2024 as compared to an increase of 2.66%, over one year as of December 31, 2023. A 200 basis point immediate, sustained downward shock in the yield curve would decrease net interest income by an estimated 0.14% over one year as of September 30, 2024 as compared to an increase of 4.35% over one year as of December 31, 2023.
In addition to the one year earnings sensitivity analysis, a two-year analysis is also performed. Compared to the one year analysis, United is projected to show improved performance in year two within the upward rate shock scenarios. Given an immediate, sustained 100 basis point upward shock to the yield curve used in the simulation model, net interest income for United is estimated to increase by 4.00% in year two as of September 30, 2024. A 200 basis point immediate, sustained upward shock in the yield curve would increase net interest income by an estimated 6.89% in year two as of September 30, 2024. A 100 basis point immediate, sustained downward shock in the yield curve would decrease net interest income by an estimated 2.29% in year two as of September 30, 2024. A 200 basis point immediate, sustained downward shock in the yield curve would decrease net interest income by an estimated 5.86% in year two as of September 30, 2024.
While it is unlikely market rates would immediately move 100 or 200 basis points upward or downward on a sustained basis, this is another tool used by management and the Board to gauge interest rate risk. All of these estimated changes in net interest income are and were within the policy guidelines established by the Board.
To further aid in interest rate management, United’s subsidiary bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”). The use of FHLB advances provides United with a low risk means of matching maturities of earning assets and interest-bearing funds to achieve a desired interest rate spread over the life of the earning assets. In addition, United uses credit with large regional banks and trust preferred securities to provide funding.
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As part of its interest rate risk management strategy, United may use derivative instruments to protect against adverse price or interest rate movements on the value of certain assets or liabilities and on future cash flows. These derivatives commonly consist of interest rate swaps, caps, floors, collars, futures, forward contracts, written and purchased options. Interest rate swaps obligate two parties to exchange one or more payments generally calculated with reference to a fixed or variable rate of interest applied to the notional amount. United accounts for its derivative activities in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging.”
Extension Risk
A key feature of most mortgage loans is the ability of the borrower to repay principal earlier than scheduled. This is called a prepayment. Prepayments arise primarily due to sale of the underlying property, refinancing, or foreclosure. In general, declining interest rates tend to increase prepayments, and rising interest rates tend to slow prepayments. Like other fixed-income securities, when interest rates rise, the value of mortgage-related securities generally declines. The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of mortgage-related securities and may shorten or extend the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. If interest rates rise, United’s holdings of mortgage-related securities may experience reduced returns if the borrowers of the underlying mortgages pay off their mortgages later than anticipated. This is generally referred to as extension risk.
At September 30, 2024, United’s mortgage related securities portfolio had an amortized cost of $1.8 billion, of which approximately $925.9 million or 51% were fixed rate collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”). These fixed rate CMOs consisted primarily of planned amortization class (“PACs”), sequential-pay and accretion directed (“VADMs”) bonds having an average life of approximately 4.6 years and a weighted average yield of 2.84%, under current projected prepayment assumptions. These securities are expected to have moderate extension risk in a rising rate environment. Current models show that an immediate, sustained upward shock of 300 basis points, the average life of these securities would only extend to 6.4 years. The projected price decline of the fixed rate CMO portfolio in rates up 300 basis points would be 14.8%, or less than the price decline of a 7- year treasury note. By comparison, the price decline of a 30-year 5.5% current coupon mortgage backed security (“MBS”) in rates higher by 300 basis points would be approximately 18.9%.
United had approximately $383.4 million in fixed rate Commercial mortgage backed Securities (“CMBS”) with a projected yield of 1.84% and a projected average life of 4.5 years on September 30, 2024. This portfolio consisted primarily of Freddie Mac Multifamily K securities and Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (“DUS”) securities with a weighted average maturity (“WAM”) of 8.4 years.
United had approximately $11.3 million in 15-year mortgage backed securities with a projected yield of 2.05% and a projected average life of 4.1 years as of September 30, 2024. This portfolio consisted of seasoned 15-year mortgage paper with a weighted average loan age (“WALA”) of 5.5 years and a weighted average maturity (“WAM”) of 10.3 years.
United had approximately $304.4 million in 20-year mortgage backed securities with a projected yield of 1.81% and a projected average life of 6.1 years on September 30, 2024. This portfolio consisted of seasoned 20-year mortgage paper with a weighted average loan age (“WALA”) of 3.5 years and a weighted average maturity (“WAM”) of 16.3 years.
United had approximately $151.8 million in 30-year mortgage backed securities with a projected yield of 2.88% and a projected average life of 7 years on September 30, 2024. This portfolio consisted of seasoned 30-year mortgage paper with a weighted average loan age (“WALA”) of 4.6 years and a weighted average maturity (“WAM”) of 24.3 years.
The remaining 1% of the mortgage related securities portfolio on September 30, 2024, included floating rate CMO, CMBS and mortgage backed securities.
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CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of September 30, 2024, an evaluation was performed under the supervision of and with the participation of United’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of United’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, United’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that United’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2024 were effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time period required by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls
United’s management, including the CEO and CFO, does not expect that United’s disclosure controls and internal controls will prevent all errors and fraud. While United’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objective, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the controls.
Changes in Internal Controls
There have been no changes in United’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2024, 2024, or in other factors that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect United’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
United and its subsidiaries are currently involved in various legal proceedings in the normal course of business. Management is vigorously pursuing all its legal and factual defenses and, after consultation with legal counsel, believes that all such litigation will be resolved with no material effect on United’s financial position.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, please refer to United’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for disclosures with respect to United’s risk factors which could materially affect United’s business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing United. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to United or that United currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect United’s business, financial condition and/or operating results.
Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
There have been no United equity securities sales during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 that were not registered. The table below includes certain information regarding United’s purchase of its common shares during the quarter ended September 30, 2024:
Period
7/01 – 7/31/2024
8/01 – 8/31/2024
9/01 – 9/30/2024
Includes shares exchanged in connection with the exercise of stock options or the vesting of restricted stock under United’s long-term incentive plans. Shares are purchased pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan and not pursuant to a publicly announced stock repurchase plan. For the quarter ended September 30, 2024 – 221 shares were exchanged by participants in United’s long-term incentive plans at an average price of $37.42.
Includes shares purchased in open market transactions by United for a rabbi trust to provide payment of benefits under a deferred compensation plan for certain key officers of United and its subsidiaries. For the quarter ended September 30, 2024, the following shares were purchased for the deferred compensation plan: September 2024 – 5 shares at an average price of $35.34.
In May of 2022, United’s Board of Directors approved a new repurchase plan to repurchase up to 4,750,000 shares of United’s common stock on the open market (the “2022 Plan”). The timing, price and quantity of purchases under the plans are at the discretion of management and the plan may be discontinued, suspended or restarted at any time depending on the facts and circumstances. The 2022 Plan replaces a repurchase plan approved by United’s Board of Directors in October of 2019.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
/s/ Richard M. Adams, Jr.
/s/ W. Mark Tatterson
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