1st Source Corporation (NASDAQ: SRCE), parent company of 1st Source Bank, today reported record quarterly net income of $32.48 million for the third quarter of 2021, up 61.95% from the $20.06 million reported in the third quarter a year ago, bringing the 2021 year-to-date net income to $90.81 million compared to $54.97 million in 2020, an increase of 65.19%. Diluted net income per common share for the third quarter of 2021 was up 65.38% to $1.29 versus $0.78 in the third quarter of 2020. Diluted net income per common share for the first nine months of 2021 was $3.59 compared to $2.14 a year earlier, a 67.76% increase.

At its October 2021 meeting, the Board of Directors approved a cash dividend of $0.31 per common share, up 10.71% from the $0.28 per common share declared a year ago. The cash dividend is payable to shareholders of record on November 2, 2021 and will be paid on November 12, 2021.

Christopher J. Murphy III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are happy to report record net income for the third consecutive quarter. Credit quality improvements continued during the third quarter which resulted in a reduction to our allowance for loan and lease losses. Virtually all COVID-19 related loan and lease modifications ended their deferment during the quarter. In addition, our clients continued to receive Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness during the third quarter. Total PPP loans forgiven in 2021 were $441.48 million which has provided $13.26 million in fee income. The Bank contributed $3 million of the PPP income to the 1st Source Foundation to help with COVID-19 related initiatives in the communities we serve. Furthermore, liquidity remains elevated and we are focused on its deployment through growing our loan and lease portfolio by deepening existing client relationships as well as developing new ones.

"We continue to remain focused on keeping our clients, colleagues and families safe so we can deliver the highest level of service and encourage all colleagues and those in our communities to get vaccinated to best protect themselves and others from the virus. As new variants of COVID develop, we will continue to review and analyze data from the CDC and local health departments to make the best decisions possible for the health and safety of our team members, clients and communities. To that end, masking requirements remain in effect for our team members and clients due to current infection rates in the communities we serve. This measure ensures that our colleagues are less likely to inadvertently expose themselves or others to the latest variant of the virus. Our lobbies are open, allowing our bankers to meet with business and consumer clients and safely participate in community activities about which they are passionate. We're confident we are doing our best to ensure the safety and well-being of all those we serve and employ while also conducting 'business as usual' for all our clients.

"During the third quarter, it was announced our Board of Directors had approved the promotion of Mr. Brett Bauer to Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of 1st Source Corporation and 1st Source Bank with responsibility for Accounting, Finance, Asset Liability Management, Treasury Management and Investor Relations; and that of Mr. John Bedient to Chief Operations Officer of 1st Source Bank overseeing a new Operations Group combining both deposit and loan operations. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Bauer had served as Chief Investment Officer since late 2012. In this role he has been responsible for managing 1st Source's funding and treasury functions, bank liquidity, municipal and large CD pricing and services, a $1 billion-plus investment portfolio, and setting and managing the Bank's asset liability policy and approach. He has also played a key role in vetting tax equity investments in 1st Source's solar financing business and recently took over responsibility for the company's Financial Analysis unit. Mr. Bedient had most recently served as 1st Source's Group Head of Administrative Services and Retail Operations and has been a leader in the Bank's retail and deposit services areas in various capacities since 2008. Both colleagues were promoted due to their long-term service and success at 1st Source, as well as their service, dedication and desire to live the 1st Source values. These new responsibilities harness the unique capabilities of each for the benefit of the company, their colleagues, and most importantly, our clients and shareholders.

"Lastly, I'm pleased to share that we opened a dedicated loan production office in southeast Fort Wayne, a historically underserved and majority- minority neighborhood in our community banking market. Under the leadership of Larry Mayers, our Fort Wayne regional president and business banking group head, the loan production office will serve the community's consumer and small business loan, mortgage and other credit application needs. Our Fort Wayne colleagues will continue offering financial wellness education and support for minority and underrepresented entrepreneurs, which in turn will strengthen the business outlook for this area and the people who call southeast Fort Wayne home," Mr. Murphy concluded.

THIRD QUARTER 2021 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Loans

Third quarter average loans and leases of $5.43 billion increased $78.54 million, up 1.54% net of PPP loans from the year ago quarter and increased $62.33 million, up 1.22% net of PPP loans from the previous quarter. Year-to-date average loans and leases of $5.48 billion increased $20.68 million, up 0.41% net PPP loans from the first nine months of 2020. PPP forgiveness and customer payments totaled $150.16 million in the third quarter of 2021 and $441.08 million during the first nine months of 2021 offset by PPP originations of $261.46 million during the first nine months of 2021. Loan runoff is primarily from SBA forgiveness of PPP loans offset by growth in the aircraft, solar and auto and light truck portfolios when compared to the third quarter of 2020.

Deposits

Average deposits of $6.40 billion grew $512.41 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, up 8.70% from the year ago quarter and increased $123.19 million, up 1.96% from the previous quarter. Average deposits for the first nine months of 2021 were $6.22 billion, an increase of $563.56 million, up 9.96% from the same period a year ago. Deposit growth is primarily from PPP loan fundings and increased consumer deposit levels compared to 2020 and increased consumer and business deposit levels compared to the previous quarter.

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Third quarter 2021 tax-equivalent net interest income of $62.34 million increased $7.34 million, or 13.34% from the third quarter a year ago and increased $5.28 million, or 9.26% from the previous quarter of 2021. For the first nine months of 2021, tax-equivalent net interest income was $176.92 million, an increase of $12.79 million, or 7.79% compared to the same period a year ago.

Third quarter 2021 net interest margin was 3.33%, an increase of 14 basis points from the 3.19% for the same period in 2020 and an increase of 19 basis points from the previous quarter. Third quarter 2021 net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis was 3.34%, an increase of 14 basis points from the 3.20% for the same period in 2020 and was higher by 19 basis points compared to the previous quarter. Fees for PPP loans had a positive impact on the net interest margin of 29 basis points for the quarter compared to a negative impact of six basis points in the same period a year ago. We recognized $6.69 million in PPP loan fees during the third quarter of 2021. During the prior quarter, PPP loans had a positive impact on the net interest margin of one basis point and we recognized $2.59 million in PPP loan fees. The margin continues to experience pressure from the low interest rate environment and excess liquidity.

Net interest margin for the first nine months of 2021 was 3.27%, a decrease of five basis points from the 3.32% for the same period in 2020. Net interest margin on a fully-taxable-equivalent basis for the first nine months of 2021 was 3.28%, a decrease of five basis points from the 3.33% for the first half of 2020. The margin continues to experience pressure from the low interest rate environment and excess liquidity. PPP loans had a positive impact on the net interest margin of 14 basis points for the first nine months of 2021 compared to a negative impact of six basis points during the first nine months of 2020. We do not expect significant impact from PPP fees in 2022 as PPP loans continue to be forgiven. As of September 30, 2021, approximately 21% of all PPP loans originated remained outstanding while approximately 79% had been forgiven by the SBA or paid down by customers.

Noninterest Income

Third quarter 2021 noninterest income of $25.50 million decreased $2.54 million, or 9.07% from the third quarter a year ago and increased $0.60 million, or 2.41% from the second quarter of 2021. For the first nine months of 2021, noninterest income was $76.26 million, a decrease of $1.64 million, or 2.11% from the same period a year ago.

Noninterest income was lower compared to the third quarter a year ago mainly from reduced mortgage banking income resulting from a lower sales volume and less equipment rental income as demand for leases declined. This was offset by higher trust and wealth advisory fees as market values improved on assets under management, increased debit card income as transaction levels grew, a rise in service charges on deposit accounts and higher gains on partnership investments.

The increase in noninterest income from the prior quarter was mainly due to repositioning the investment portfolio last quarter resulting in losses on investment security sales, increased mortgage banking income due to declining rates during most of the third quarter, and gains on partnership investments partially offset by seasonal trust tax return fees which reduced trust fees and aforementioned declines in lease demand which reduced equipment rental income.

Additionally, we recognized $0.81 million in impairment recoveries on our mortgage servicing rights during 2021.

Noninterest Expense

Third quarter 2021 noninterest expense of $48.06 million increased $1.02 million, or 2.17% from the third quarter a year ago and increased $2.87 million, or 6.34% from the prior quarter. For the first nine months of 2021, noninterest expense was $137.40 million, a decrease of $1.00 million, down 0.72% compared to the same period a year ago.

The increase in noninterest expense from the third quarter a year ago was mainly the result of $3.00 million in charitable contributions, increased salaries and wages due to incentive awards and normal merit increases, higher business development costs tied to fewer COVID-19 restrictions offset by reduced general collection and repossession expenses, lower valuation adjustments on repossessed assets and decreased leased equipment depreciation as the average equipment rental portfolio continues to decline.

The increase in noninterest expense from the prior quarter was primarily the result of $3.00 million in charitable contributions, higher salaries and wages due to incentive awards and normal merit increases and an increase in the provision for unfunded loan commitments offset by lower general collection and repossession expenses and gains on the sale of repossessed assets, lower FDIC and other insurance expenses related to a one-time $0.38 million recovery of an incurred but not reported insurance reserve and lower leased equipment depreciation as the average equipment rental portfolio continues to decline.

Credit

The allowance for loan and lease losses as of September 30, 2021 was 2.50% of total loans and leases compared to 2.49% at June 30, 2021 and 2.43% at September 30, 2020 (incurred loss method). The allowance calculation includes PPP loans which are guaranteed by the SBA. Excluding these loans from the calculation results in an allowance of 2.58% at September 30, 2021, compared to 2.63% at June 30, 2021 and 2.73% at December 31, 2020. Net charge-offs of $0.04 million were recorded for the third quarter of 2021 compared with net charge-offs of $3.77 million in the same quarter a year ago and $0.16 million of net charge-offs in the prior quarter. The majority of charge-offs in 2021 were related to the bus division of the auto and light truck portfolio which continued to be impacted by the lingering effects of the pandemic on events and tourism through the first half of 2021. The provision for credit losses was a recovery of $2.56 million for the third quarter of 2021, a decrease of $11.86 million compared with the same period in 2020 and an increase of $0.47 million from the previous quarter of 2021. The ratio of nonperforming assets to loans and leases was 0.84% as of September 30, 2021, compared to 1.06% on June 30, 2021 and 1.33% on September 30, 2020. Excluding PPP loans, the ratio of non-performing assets to loans and leases was 0.87% at September 30, 2021, 1.13% at June 30, 2021 and 1.48% at September 30, 2020.

Capital

As of September 30, 2021, the common equity-to-assets ratio was 11.44%, compared to 11.68% at June 30, 2021 and 12.04% a year ago. The tangible common equity-to-tangible assets ratio was 10.50% at September 30, 2021 compared to 10.70% at June 30, 2021 and 11.01% a year earlier. The Common Equity Tier 1 ratio, calculated under banking regulatory guidelines, was 13.65% at September 30, 2021 compared to 13.62% at June 30, 2021 and 12.92% a year ago. During the third quarter of 2021, 210,130 shares were repurchased for treasury reducing common shareholders' equity by $9.67 million.

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