WAUWATOSA, WI – 10/23/2019 – Waterstone Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSBF), holding company for WaterStone Bank, reported net income of $10.9 million, or $0.42 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 compared to $8.7 million, or $0.31 per diluted share for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. Net income per diluted share was $1.03 for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 compared to net income per diluted share of $0.90 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

“We are pleased with our strong results in the third quarter,” said Douglas Gordon, CEO of Waterstone Financial, Inc. “We generated a record $14.5 million in consolidated quarterly pre-tax income, which represents a 26.6% increase over the prior year’s comparable quarter. The results reflect a record pre-tax quarter from the Community Banking segment and a very strong Mortgage Banking segment performance. During the quarter, the Community Banking segment remained disciplined with respect to cost management, while continuing to focus on future growth and the customer experience through the opening of a new branch. The Mortgage Banking segment had a strong performance due to increased production volumes of refinance products and a continued focus on improved efficiencies at the branch and corporate levels.” 

Highlights of the Quarter Ended September 30, 2019

Waterstone Financial, Inc. (Consolidated)

• Consolidated net income of Waterstone Financial, Inc. totaled $10.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to $8.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Consolidated return on average assets was 2.17% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 compared to 1.80% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Consolidated return on average equity was 11.15% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 and 8.48% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.
• The Company repurchased a total 495,000 shares on the open market during the quarter ended September 30, 2019 at an average price of $16.77 per share and a total of 1,341,900 shares repurchased at an average price of $16.68 per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

• Dividends declared totaled $0.12 per share during the quarter ended September 30, 2019 amounting to a total of $0.86 in dividends declared per share during the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Community Banking Segment

• Pre-tax income totaled $8.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, which represents a 1.0% increase compared to $8.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Net interest income totaled $13.9 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, which represents a 1.7% decrease compared to $14.1 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Average loans held for investment totaled $1.38 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2019, which represents an increase of $36.7 million, or 2.7%, compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2018. Average loans held for investment increased $3.3 million, or 1.0% annualized, compared to $1.38 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

• Net interest margin decreased 27 basis points to 2.80% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 compared to 3.07% for the quarter September 30, 2018, which was a result of the increase in cost of funding as certificates of deposit and borrowings repriced at higher rates over the past year. Net interest margin decreased two basis points compared to 2.82% for the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

• The segment had $150,000 negative provision for loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 compared to no provision for loan losses for loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. Net recoveries totaled $9,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to net recoveries of $63,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Noninterest income increased $103,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2018 as loan prepayment fees and earnings on life insurance policies increased.

• Noninterest expenses decreased $73,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2018. Compensation expenses decreased $360,000 as health insurance expense decreased. Other noninterest expenses decreased $118,000 as FDIC insurance premiums decreased. Offsetting the decreases, occupancy increased with the branch additions and real estate owned expenses increased due to lower gains on sale.

• The efficiency ratio was 43.97% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to 44.06% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Average deposits totaled $1.05 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2019, an increase of $41.0 million, or 4.1%, compared to $1.01 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2018.  Average deposits increased $4.2 million, or 1.6% annualized, compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2019.

• Nonperforming assets as percentage of total assets was 0.41% at September 30, 2019, 0.37% at June 30, 2019, and 0.45% at September 30, 2018.

• Past due loans as percentage of total loans was 0.62% at September 30, 2019, 0.61% at June 30, 2019, and 0.67% at September 30, 2018.

Mortgage Banking Segment

• Pre-tax income totaled $5.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to $2.8 million of pre-tax income for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Loan originations increased approximately $90.1 million, or 11.8%, to $851.3 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to $761.2 million during the quarter ended September 30, 2018.  Origination volume relative to purchase activity accounted for 79.0% of originations for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 compared to 92.1% of total originations for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Mortgage banking income increased $3.4 million, or 10.2%, to $36.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to $33.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2018.

• Gross margin on loans sold decreased to 4.30% for the quarter ended September 30, 2019, compared to 4.39% for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. 

About Waterstone Financial, Inc.

Waterstone Financial, Inc. is the savings and loan holding company for WaterStone Bank. WaterStone Bank was established in 1921 and offers a full suite of personal and business banking products. The Bank has branches in Wauwatosa/State St, Brookfield, Fox Point/North Shore, Franklin/Hales Corners, Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Greenfield/Loomis Rd, Oak Creek/27th St, Oconomowoc/Lake Country, Pewaukee, Waukesha/Brookfield, West Allis/Greenfield Ave, and West Allis/National Ave, Wisconsin along with a commercial lending office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. WaterStone Bank is the parent company to Waterstone Mortgage, which has the ability to lend in 48 states. For more information about WaterStone Bank, go to http://www.wsbonline.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding expected financial and operating activities and results that are preceded by, followed by, or that include words such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates” or “believes.”  Such statements are subject to important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements.  These factors include (i) exposure to the deterioration in the commercial and residential real estate markets which could result in increased charge-offs and increases in the allowance for loan losses,  (ii) various other factors, including changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding outstanding loans and identification of additional problem loans, which could require an increase in the allowance for loan losses, (iii) Waterstone’s ability to maintain required levels of capital and other current and future regulatory requirements, (iv) the impact of recent and future legislative initiatives on the financial markets, and (v) those factors referenced in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Waterstone’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and as may be described from time to time in Waterstone’s subsequent SEC filings, which factors are incorporated herein by reference.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect only Waterstone’s belief as of the date of this press release.

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