CF BANKSHARES INC. quarterly report, Q2 FY2021

CF Bankshares Inc. — Q2 2021 Form 10-Q

Reporting period: Quarter and six months ended June 30, 2021. CF Bankshares is a financial holding company whose subsidiary, CFBank, provides commercial, retail and mortgage banking services, primarily in Ohio. Dollar amounts below are in millions unless stated otherwise.

Financial results

MetricQ2 2021Q2 2020Six months 2021Six months 2020
Net interest income$11.0$6.3$20.7$12.4
Net interest margin2.95%2.42%2.83%2.62%
Provision for loan losses$(1.6)$3.1$(1.6)$3.1
Noninterest income$1.0$19.9$8.2$23.3
Noninterest expense$9.3$10.3$18.2$17.4
Net income$3.5$10.1$9.9$12.1
Diluted EPS$0.52$1.53$1.48$1.82

Q2 net income fell 65.3%; first-half net income declined 17.9%. Stronger net interest income reflected asset growth and lower deposit funding costs, while mortgage-sale income dropped sharply. Q2 mortgage-loan sale activity recorded a net loss of $0.7 million, versus a $19.6 million gain a year earlier; first-half gains were $5.6 million versus $22.4 million. The $1.6 million negative provision was a reversal, which management attributed to an improved economic outlook and strong credit quality. First-half net recoveries were $73,000, compared with $156,000 in net charge-offs in 2020.

Financial position, cash flow and capital

  • Total assets were $1.508 billion at June 30, up 2.1% from year-end 2020. Net loans and leases rose 11.9% to $1.001 billion; deposits increased 5.3% to $1.172 billion.
  • Cash and cash equivalents were $134.3 million, down $87.3 million from year-end. First-half operating cash flow was $35.2 million, investing cash flow was negative $148.2 million, and financing cash flow was $25.7 million.
  • Loans held for sale were $254.3 million, down 10.2% from year-end. The allowance for loan and lease losses was $15.5 million, or 1.52% of total loans, versus $17.0 million, or 1.87%, at year-end.
  • Nonperforming loans were $327,000, or 0.03% of loans, compared with $695,000, or 0.08%, at year-end. No loans remained on COVID-related payment deferrals at June 30.
  • FHLB advances and other debt totaled $74.3 million, down from $214.4 million at year-end; subordinated debentures were $14.9 million. The reduction largely reflected repayments of PPPLF and warehouse borrowings. CFBank reported $331.4 million in cash, unpledged securities and available borrowing capacity, compared with $412.8 million at year-end.
  • Stockholders’ equity was $119.9 million, up 8.8% from year-end. CFBank’s regulatory ratios included a 14.10% total risk-based capital ratio and a 9.72% leverage ratio; the bank exceeded applicable “well-capitalized” thresholds.

Changes, outlook and risks

  • Management said narrower direct-to-consumer (DTC) mortgage margins prompted a decision, announced July 1, to wind down that business after Q2 and shift toward a traditional retail mortgage model. The transition was expected to be completed in Q3 2021; management anticipated substantially lower mortgage originations and related noninterest income for the remainder of 2021 versus 2020.
  • The sale of two Columbiana County branches closed July 16, 2021, after quarter-end. At June 30, approximately $29.3 million of related assets and $107.2 million of deposits were classified as held for sale. The transaction included a $1.9 million deposit premium.
  • Management considered liquidity sufficient for operating needs. It noted that credit quality, loan demand, deposit flows and borrowing availability could be affected by economic conditions, COVID-19 developments, real estate values and regulatory decisions. The allowance is based on estimates and may require future additions.
  • The company was evaluating the expected-credit-loss standard, effective for it after December 15, 2022; management said the impact could not yet be reasonably determined. It was also assessing the transition away from LIBOR.
  • A proposed increase in the federal corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% was identified as a risk if enacted. Management reported no pending litigation expected to materially affect the company and no material change in market risk from its 2020 Form 10-K.
  • After quarter-end, the board declared a $0.03-per-share quarterly dividend, payable August 2, 2021. Dividend capacity is subject to regulatory and debt-related restrictions.

Important facts for investors to verify

  • Whether the DTC mortgage exit and retail repositioning occur as expected, and their effects on revenue, expenses and earnings.
  • Mortgage banking results and fair-value volatility: Q2 included a $1.0 million gain from changes in held-for-sale loan fair value but a $4.0 million loss from derivative fair-value changes.
  • Loan growth and credit quality, especially commercial real estate and construction exposures, criticized loans, and the adequacy of the allowance as economic conditions evolve.
  • The financial and deposit effects of the completed branch sale, including the final transaction accounting and use of proceeds.
  • Liquidity and funding trends, including brokered deposits, borrowing capacity, and repayment of PPP-related funding as loans are forgiven or repaid.