BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Howard Bancorp, Inc. (“Howard Bancorp” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:HBMD), the parent company of Howard Bank (“Howard Bank” or the “Bank”), today reported its financial results for the quarter and the year ended December 31, 2018. A summary of results for and other developments during the year ended December 31, 2018 are as follows:

• On March 1, 2018, we completed our acquisition of First Mariner Bank (“First Mariner”) through the merger of First Mariner with and into our bank subsidiary Howard Bank. The aggregate merger consideration was $173.8 million. With the acquisition, total assets increased by $975 million, or 85%, to $2.12 billion at March 31, 2018 versus $1.15 billion at the end of 2017, total loans increased by $669 million, or 71%, total deposits increased by $686 million, or 79%, of which total transaction deposits increased $276 million, or 95%. Howard Bank also recorded a deferred tax asset (“DTA”) of $34.2 million and $70.1 million of goodwill in the acquisition.
• In connection with the acquisition of First Mariner, we recorded $15.5 million in merger related expenses and $3.1 million in occupancy related reorganization expenses during 2018, which resulted in a pretax loss of $4.7 million and a net loss of $3.8 million, or $0.22 per basic share, for the year ended December 31, 2018. This compares to net income of $7.2 million and earnings per basic share (“EPS”) of $0.75 for 2017. Included in 2018 are several items such as the merger related expenses, the occupancy reorganization costs and other items which dramatically impacted our operating results. If you exclude these infrequent and non-recurring items, our pretax income for 2018 would have been $16.2 million, our net income would be $11.39 million, and our core operating EPS(1) would have been $0.64 for 2018.
• Following the acquisition of First Mariner, from March 31, 2018 to December 31, 2018, total assets increased by $142 million, or 7%, total loans grew by $44 million, or 3%, while total deposits increased by $136 million, or 9%, with organic growth in transaction deposits of $90 million, or 16%.
• Total common shareholders’ equity increased from $132 million at December 31, 2017 to $292 million at March 31, 2018 given the shares issued in the acquisition of First Mariner. After the closing of the acquisition of First Mariner, our total risk based capital ratio was 10.59% at March 31, 2018, and was impacted by the higher level of intangible assets and portions of the DTA which are deducted from total capital in calculating regulatory ratios. Given the Company’s mix of risk based assets, this total risk based capital ratio is the one deemed most significant. In order to provide for continued growth and supplement our regulatory capital ratios, we issued $25 million of subordinated debt in the fourth quarter of 2018 ($20 million of which was used to increase the capital of the Bank). As a result the Company’s total risk based capital position increased significantly to support continued growth:

• To enhance efficiencies in future periods and supplement the merger related cost savings achieved with the greater scale of the Bank post acquisition of First Mariner, we executed upon the initiative previously discussed to reduce future operating expenses, although incurring upfront occupancy reorganization costs in 2018. We successfully negotiated and executed upon the strategy to relocate from leased facilities to leverage already owned locations by closing our former headquarters site and consolidating the bulk of our mortgage operations. In addition, we closed an underperforming leased branch location. Overall, between writing off leasehold improvements and final settlement with landlords, we incurred costs of $3.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2018, which are expected to reduce future operating expenses by $1.4 million annually.

For the Year Ended December 31, 2018

As noted above, during the year ended December 31, 2018 Howard Bancorp continued with its strategic growth plan by growing assets, loans, and transaction deposits by 85%, 71%, and 95%, respectively, via the acquisition of First Mariner. This acquired growth was further supplemented by continued organic growth from the time of the closing of the acquisition of First Mariner through year end 2018, with growth in assets, loans, and transaction deposits by 7%, 3%, and 16%, respectively. In order to offset the increased interest expense resulting from the $25 million issuance of subordinated debt in the fourth quarter of 2018, and to improve our liquidity ratios, we increased the size of our investment portfolio by nearly $100 million in the fourth quarter of 2018 to generate additional interest income via a less capital intensive source. With this large increase in the fourth quarter of 2018, total investments available for sale increased by $150 million, or 201%, from December 31, 2017 to December 31, 2018.

This balance sheet growth led to an increase in net interest income of $28.8 million, or 76% when comparing net interest income of $66.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 to $37.9 million recorded in the year ended December 31, 2017. It should be noted that the 2018 net interest income only includes 10 months of combined results given the March 1, 2018 closing date of the acquisition of First Mariner.

This net interest income growth was partially offset by an intentionally reduced level of some categories of noninterest income for 2018 compared to 2017 to improve the quality, the consistency and the sustainability of the noninterest income mix. Total noninterest income of $17.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $1.7 million or 9% lower than for the year ended December 31, 2017 primarily due to the decreased revenues generated from the right sized mortgage banking activities as the Bank downsized its purchase money mortgage division origination levels and completely exited the nationally focused leads based Consumer Direct unit of our mortgage operations in early 2018. Due to the lower origination levels, our gains on sales of mortgages into the secondary markets declined by $5.8 million, or 52%, from $11.0 million in revenues for 2017 to $5.2 million for 2018. Excluding the $5.8 million year-over-year decline in mortgage revenues, our other categories of noninterest income grew by $4.1 million, or 49%, for 2018 versus 2017.

As of December 31, 2018, the provision for credit loss expense of $6.1 million was $4.3 million, or 232%, higher than the $1.8 million recorded in 2017. This increase was largely driven by an increase in charge-offs recorded in the first and second quarter of 2018 which required provisions of $1.1 million and $1.4 million for the first and second quarter of 2018, respectively, as well as fourth quarter 2018 specific reserves related to a long term lending relationship. The latter relates to a 15 year old relationship that experienced sudden management challenges and related operating deterioration. The Bank established a $2.4 million specific reserve related to this relationship given the possibility of the impact of those changes on the value of the underlying property. Other than the one large reserve in the fourth quarter of 2018, provisioning levels have been mostly normalized since the immediate pre- and post-acquisition of First Mariner timeframe. The Bank has seen a steady improvement in delinquencies and asset quality measures since the second quarter of 2018.

As noted in the highlights on the first page, during the year ended December 31, 2018 we recorded $15.5 million in expenses related to the acquisition of First Mariner and during the year ended December 31, 2017 we recorded $567 thousand in merger costs. Excluding these merger-related expenses, our annual noninterest expenses increased from $44.6 million in 2017 to $67.6 million in 2018, representing an increase of $22.9 million or 51%. This $22.9 million expense increase includes approximately $2.8 million in operating expenses incurred post acquisition but prior to our systems conversion recorded during the second quarter of 2018, $2.5 million in lease termination costs incurred in the fourth quarter of 2018, increases in core deposit intangible amortization of $2.4 million or nearly 500%, increased FDIC assessments of $618 thousand or 95% and increased data processing costs of $2 million or 98%, most of which are driven by the acquisition of First Mariner and resulting increases in size and customers. The $2.8 million in redundant operating expenses and the $2.5 million in lease termination expenses are non-recurring in nature. The following table summarizes the quarterly noninterest expenses and the efficiencies achieved to date from the merger.

Overall, we exceeded our cost savings target which was a 37% reduction in the operating expenses of First Mariner, though the full benefit of these cost reductions is not evident in our full year 2018 expense levels given a merger systems conversion in May 2018, which required maintaining duplicative staff and facilities operations until post conversion activities were completed at the end of the second quarter of 2018. Thus, the result of our cost savings initiatives did not become apparent until the third quarter of 2018. Though the 2018 expense levels were somewhat inflated due to the timing of when we could realize the expense savings, the 51% increase in expenses for the year ended December 31, 2018 compares to the growth in assets of 97% and growth in net interest income of 76% during the year ended December 31, 2017.

For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2018

Primarily influenced by the $99.5 million increase in investment securities, total assets for the fourth quarter of 2018 increased by $113.6 million or 5%. Total portfolio loans increased by $25.3 million or 1.6% for the fourth quarter of 2018 or 6.2% on an annualized basis. However, principal advances on new portfolio loans originated in the fourth quarter of $94 million represented over one-third of the total $261 million principal outlays on loans originated for 2018 and reflects the steadily growing momentum in leveraging our position as the largest locally headquartered bank in Baltimore. These originations were offset by two commercial loans totaling $22.3 million which paid off in the last half of December 2018. Deposit growth remained strong, with total deposits increasing by $61.2 million or 4% for the fourth quarter, while our core focus of transaction based accounts increased by $38.2 million or 6% for the quarter. As noted earlier, we issued subordinated debt in December of 2018, and in order to make the impact of this issuance “neutral” to our net interest income and to strengthen our on balance sheet liquidity position, we increased our investment securities by nearly $100 million, and in addition to the deposit growth achieved for the fourth quarter of 2018, the remaining funding for these securities was provided by an increase in borrowings of $49.2 million or 22% for the fourth quarter of 2018.

Interest income of $22.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 was unchanged from the $22.4 million recorded in the third quarter of 2018; however, the third quarter interest income included $1.2 million in additional income from fair value measures, while the fourth quarter interest income only included $488 thousand from such fair value measures. The third quarter of 2018 fair value income was higher due to one large acquired loan that paid off in the quarter. Excluding this fair value impact, interest income for the fourth quarter of 2018 grew by $700 thousand over the prior quarter. Interest expense increased by $696 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the third quarter of 2018, related to higher rates paid on Certificates of Deposit which increased by $723 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2018 over the prior quarter in 2018. In aggregate, interest expense on all other sources of deposits and borrowings declined for the fourth quarter. Overall, net interest income of $17.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 was lower than the $18.6 million in the third quarter of 2018 by $704 thousand almost all attributable to the fair value differences in interest income. We had a net interest margin (“NIM”) of 3.74% for the fourth quarter of 2018 while for the third quarter of 2018 our NIM was 3.91%. Because of the additional interest income from purchase accounting adjustments, the NIM can fluctuate from period to period. The following table represents the NIM as reported each quarter, and the more stable NIM excluding the impact of the additional interest income due to the purchase accounting measures:

Our provision for credit losses of $2.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, which included $2.4 million in specific provisions on one long term loan, was higher than the $696 thousand recorded in the third quarter of 2018.Fourth quarter 2018 noninterest revenues of $3.7 million, were $173 thousand or 4% lower than the $3.9 million recorded in the third quarter of 2018. Mortgage related revenues were $180 thousand or 11% lower for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the prior quarter, largely due to a normal seasonal slowdown in mortgage originations that occurs in the final quarter each year. Also impacting noninterest income, although generally offsetting each other were three other items. The first was the receipt of a $750 thousand settlement on a mortgage related legal suit which originated at First Mariner years before our acquisition. The second, a loss on the disposal of leasehold improvements as we closed and exited the leases on our former headquarters site, our primary mortgage office location as well as a branch location. As noted above, we expect to reduce occupancy expenses by $1.4 million annually as a result of these closures. Finally, the decision to sell a portion of our investment portfolio, record a loss on the sale of $225 thousand, yet reinvest the sale proceeds into similar instruments at higher yields which we estimate will add in excess of $100 thousand annually to interest income. The final two items which negatively impact fourth quarter of 2018 noninterest revenues, will be additive to future operating results.

Fourth quarter 2018 noninterest expenses of $18.4 million were $2.0 million or 12% higher than the expense level for the third quarter of 2018. Occupancy expenses of $4.5 million for the fourth quarter included $2.5 million in costs relating to early lease terminations on the former headquarters, mortgage office and branch location noted above. Excluding this $2.5 million in one-time expenses, overall expense levels for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $15.9 million, which was $0.5 million less than the $16.4 million for the prior quarter. As noted above, we expect that closing these three leased locations will save us approximately $1.4 million in annualized expenses, or approximately $345 thousand quarterly. Also impacting fourth quarter noninterest expense was a write down in the carrying value of two OREO properties, which resulted in an expense of $352 thousand as a valuation adjustment in the quarter.

Influenced by all of the above items, our reported fourth quarter of 2018 pretax income was $352 thousand and our net income available to common shareholders was $145 thousand with basic EPS of $0.01 compared to net income of $4.0 million and basic EPS of $0.21 for the third quarter of 2018.

Following is a list of what we believe are the one-time and/or non-recurring items that were recorded during the fourth quarter of 2018:

Excluding these items, core operating pretax income(2) would have been $5.8 million, core operating net income(2) would have been approximately $4.1 million, and core operating earnings per share(2) would have been $0.21 for the fourth quarter of 2018. This adjusted core fourth quarter EPS(2) of $0.21 compares to core EPS(2) of $0.20 for the third quarter of 2018, and $0.21 for the fourth quarter of 2017. Based upon the core operating net income of $4.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, the adjusted ROA for the quarter would have been 0.75%.

(2)Core operating pretax income, core operating net income, core operating earnings per share, core fourth quarter EPS, core EPS and adjusted ROA are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measure to its comparable GAAP measure, see the final pages of this press release.

Chairman and CEO Mary Ann Scully stated, “The acquisition of First Mariner announced in the third quarter of 2017 and consummated in the first quarter of 2018 continues to present huge opportunities that must be, and are being realized. The transaction was transformational not for size only but for the ability that it provides Howard Bancorp to create greater, higher quality and more sustainable impact in our marketplace and higher returns for our shareholders, as measured by core EPS.

"Showing higher commercial originations to more borrowers funded by higher levels of core deposits, especially transactional deposits, measures impact and the return on that impact. Solid commercial origination activity, including a modest rebound in the CRE sector in the fourth quarter and higher average balances outstanding, as well as point to point balances was welcomed. Unusual pay down activity in a couple of sectors continues to pressure the growth numbers but the position we’ve achieved as the largest local business bank in Greater Baltimore has helped to offset that. Our focus on funding mix throughout our history has allowed us to preserve a better than peer net interest margin. This net interest margin has been supplemented with higher quality noninterest income. The absolute size of the revenue platform and the trajectory of growth has certainly lagged behind our own expectations. But, we see this trajectory changing and we are very pleased with the repositioning of the revenue sources. We continue to see the possibilities created by the merger in both leveraging a greater capacity to lend and to fund ourselves that came with the acquisition of First Mariner and to supplement with better balanced and sustainable noninterest income sources.

"The scale achievable by a $2 billion asset bank versus a $1 billion asset bank has led and will continue to lead to cost savings opportunities unavailable to a smaller institution.We’ve made significant cost reduction progress in this quarter to add to the progress in quarters two and three on creating a platform for higher returns and have exceeded all estimates of cost reductions. The large majority of the personnel related savings sought in the acquisition have been achieved. That is apparent in the fourth quarter 2018 compensation expenses levels compared to the third quarter of 2018.

"The occupancy cost opportunities as noted throughout 2018 will take longer and require upfront lease termination charges and write-offs of leasehold improvements. But these costs already incurred just in the fourth quarter of 2018 we expect to lead to $1.4 million in annualized costs savings in 2019. We are anticipating even greater savings as we now focus less on back office operations and mortgage facilities and turn to the branch optimization project announced in the third quarter. This reset will not only result in lower occupancy costs but will allow us to acknowledge different customer behaviors in transacting business and ensure we are relevant in the customer segments and geographies that we have targeted.

"We continue to focus on service and software contracts as well as the returns in our rightsized mortgage operations and believe that reduced costs in the former and higher bottom line income in the latter is achievable.

"Asset quality is always a focus and we have an excellent grasp of the combined loan portfolio, have realized the need to make certain adjustments in specific provisions, OREO valuations and are seeing a steady but gradual improvement in the delinquency and non performing ratios after making those assessments and valuations. These asset quality measures are more important than ever as the economy inches closer to a probable normal cyclical adjustment.

"The Company remains pleased with our very strong capital position. The successful $25 million subordinated debt raised at a very attractive rate reflects investor confidence in the Bank and provides the always important buffer and platform for new growth.

"We are encouraged by the improvements in core results that are the fruit of all these efforts- revenue repositioning, low cost funding, cost savings, as well as asset quality and capital strengthening. We are just as excited by the activities underway to grow these results even more. We are always grateful for the customer loyalty, employee hard work and shareholder support that has allowed us to better position this Company for sustainable growth.”

Additional information is available at www.howardbank.com.