PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC 10-Q

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained herein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period or periods, or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” "project," "intend," “anticipate,” “continue,” or similar terms or variations on those terms, or the negative of those terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those set forth in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and those related to the economic environment, particularly in the market areas in which the Company operates, competitive products and pricing, fiscal and monetary policies of the U.S. Government, the effects of the recent turmoil in the banking industry (including the closing of three financial institutions), changes in accounting policies and practices that may be adopted by the regulatory agencies and the accounting standards setters, changes in government regulations affecting financial institutions, including regulatory fees and capital requirements, changes in prevailing interest rates, acquisitions and the integration of acquired businesses, credit risk management, asset-liability management, the financial and securities markets, the availability of and costs associated with sources of liquidity, the ability to complete, or any delays in completing, the pending merger between the Company and Lakeland; any failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction when expected or at all; certain restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events, diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; and potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the completion of the merger and integration of the companies. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company advises readers that the factors listed above could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements. The Company does not assume any duty, and does not undertake, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this statement. Critical Accounting Policies The Company considers certain accounting policies to be critically important to the fair presentation of its financial condition and results of operations. These policies require management to make complex judgments on matters which by their nature have elements of uncertainty. The sensitivity of the Company’s consolidated financial statements to these critical accounting policies, and the assumptions and estimates applied, could have a significant impact on its financial condition and results of operations. These assumptions, estimates and judgments made by management can be influenced by a number of factors, including the general economic environment. The Company has identified the allowance for credit losses on loans as a critical accounting policy The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that reflects management’s evaluation of the current expected credit losses in the loan portfolio. The Company maintains the allowance for credit losses through provisions for credit losses that are charged to income. Charge-offs against the allowance for credit losses are taken on loans where management determines that the collection of loan principal and interest is unlikely. Recoveries made on loans that have been charged-off are credited to the allowance for credit losses. The calculation of the allowance for credit losses is a critical accounting policy of the Company. Management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, related to past events, current conditions, and a reasonable and supportable forecast. Historical credit loss experience for both the Company and peers provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses, where observed credit losses are converted to probability of default rate (“PDR”) curves through the use of segment-specific loss given default (“LGD”) risk factors that convert default rates to loss severity based on industry-level, observed relationships between the two variables for each segment, primarily due to the nature of the underlying collateral. These risk factors were assessed for reasonableness against the Company’s own loss experience and adjusted in certain cases when the relationship between the Company’s historical default and loss severity deviate from that of the wider industry. The historical PDR curves, together with corresponding economic conditions, establish a quantitative relationship between economic conditions and loan performance through an economic cycle. 40 Using the historical relationship between economic conditions and loan performance, management’s expectation of future loan performance is incorporated using an externally developed economic forecast. This forecast is applied over a period that management has determined to be reasonable and supportable. Beyond the period over which management can develop or source a reasonable and supportable forecast, the model will revert to long-term average economic conditions using a straight-line, time-based methodology. The Company's current forecast period is six quarters, with a four quarter reversion period to historical average macroeconomic factors. The Company's economic forecast is approved by the Company's Asset-Liability Committee. The allowance for credit losses is measured on a collective (pool) basis, with both a quantitative and qualitative analysis that is applied on a quarterly basis, when similar risk characteristics exist. The respective quantitative allowance for each loan segment is measured using an econometric, discounted PDR/LGD modeling methodology in which distinct, segment-specific multi-variate regression models are applied to an external economic forecast. Under the discounted cash flows methodology, expected credit losses are estimated over the effective life of the loans by measuring the difference between the net present value of modeled cash flows and amortized cost basis. Contractual cash flows over the contractual life of the loans are the basis for modeled cash flows, adjusted for modeled defaults and expected prepayments and discounted at the loan-level effective interest rate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals and modifications unless either of the following applies at the reporting date: management has a reasonable expectation that a TDR will be executed with an individual borrower; or when an extension or renewal option is included in the original contract and is not unconditionally cancellable by the Company. Management will assess the likelihood of the option being exercised by the borrower and appropriately extend the maturity for modeling purposes. The Company considers qualitative adjustments to credit loss estimates for information not already captured in the quantitative component of the loss estimation process. Qualitative factors are based on portfolio concentration levels, model imprecision, changes in industry conditions, changes in the Company’s loan review process, changes in the Company’s loan policies and procedures, and economic forecast uncertainty. One of the most significant judgments involved in estimating the Company’s allowance for credit losses relates to the macroeconomic forecasts used to estimate expected credit losses over the forecast period. As of March 31, 2023, the model incorporated Moody’s baseline economic forecast, as adjusted for qualitative factors, as well as an extensive review of classified loans and loans that were classified as impaired with a specific reserve assigned to those loans. This baseline outlook reflected a worsening economic forecast and related deterioration in the projected commercial property price index over the expected life of the loan portfolio and resulted in a recorded provision of $6.0 million for the three months ended, March 31, 2023 and a coverage ratio of 91 basis points. If the Company had used a more pessimistic forecast (“next-cycle recession”), the provision would have increased $10.7 million, with a coverage ratio of 101 basis points. Portfolio segment is defined as the level at which an entity develops and documents a systematic methodology to determine its allowance for credit losses. Management developed segments for estimating loss based on type of borrower and collateral which is generally based upon federal call report segmentation. The segments have been combined or sub-segmented as needed to ensure loans of similar risk profiles are appropriately pooled. As of March 31, 2023, the portfolio and class segments for the Company’s loan portfolio were: • Mortgage Loans – Residential, Commercial Real Estate, Multi-Family and Construction • Commercial Loans – Commercial Owner Occupied and Commercial Non-Owner Occupied • Consumer Loans – First Lien Home Equity and Other Consumer The allowance for credit losses on loans individually evaluated for impairment is based upon loans that have been identified through the Company’s normal loan monitoring process. This process includes the review of delinquent and problem loans at the Company’s Delinquency, Credit, Credit Risk Management and Allowance Committees; or which may be identified through the Company’s loan review process. Generally, the Company only evaluates loans individually for impairment if the loan is non-accrual, non-homogeneous and the balance is at least $1.0 million. For all classes of loans deemed collateral-dependent, the Company estimates expected credit losses based on the fair value of the collateral less any selling costs. If the loan is not collateral dependent, the allowance for credit losses related to individually assessed loans is based on discounted expected cash flows using the loan’s initial effective interest rate. For loans acquired that have experienced more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since their origination are considered PCD loans. The Company evaluates acquired loans for deterioration in credit quality based on any of, but not limited to, the following: (1) non-accrual status; (2) troubled debt restructured designation; (3) risk ratings of special mention, substandard or doubtful; (4) watchlist credits; and (5) delinquency status, including loans that are current on acquisition date, 41 but had been previously delinquent. At the acquisition date, an estimate of expected credit losses is made for groups of PCD loans with similar risk characteristics and individual PCD loans without similar risk characteristics. Subsequent to the acquisition date, the initial allowance for credit losses on PCD loans will increase or decrease based on future evaluations, with changes recognized in the provision for credit losses. Management believes the primary risks inherent in the portfolio are a general decline in the economy, a decline in real estate market values, rising unemployment or a protracted period of elevated unemployment, increasing vacancy rates in commercial investment properties and possible increases in interest rates in the absence of economic improvement. Any one or a combination of these events may adversely affect borrowers’ ability to repay the loans, resulting in increased delinquencies, credit losses and higher levels of provisions. Management considers it important to maintain the ratio of the allowance for credit losses to total loans at an acceptable level given current and forecasted economic conditions, interest rates and the composition of the portfolio. Although management believes that the Company has established and maintained the allowance for credit losses at appropriate levels, additions may be necessary if future economic and other conditions differ substantially from the current operating environment and economic forecast. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis giving consideration to forecasted economic factors, historical loss experience and other factors. Such estimates and assumptions are adjusted when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods. In addition, various regulatory agencies periodically review the adequacy of the Company’s allowance for credit losses as an integral part of their examination process. Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the allowance or additional write-downs based on their judgments about information available to them at the time of their examination. Although management uses the best information available, the level of the allowance for credit losses remains an estimate that is subject to significant judgment and short-term change. The CECL approach to calculate the allowance for credit losses on loans is significantly influenced by the composition, characteristics and quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, as well as the prevailing economic conditions and forecast utilized. Material changes to these and other relevant factors creates greater volatility to the allowance for credit losses, and therefore, greater volatility to the Company’s reported earnings. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the provision for credit losses on loans totaled $6.0 million, compared to a negative provision for credit losses of $6.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The increase in provision was attributable to a worsening economic forecast and related deterioration in the projected commercial property price index over the expected life of the loan portfolio, combined with an increase in total loans outstanding. COMPARISON OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AT MARCH 31, 2023 AND DECEMBER 31, 2022 Total assets at March 31, 2023 were $13.78 billion, a $4.5 million decrease from December 31, 2022. The Company’s loan portfolio decreased $24.7 million to $10.22 billion at March 31, 2023, from $10.25 billion at December 31, 2022. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, loan funding, including advances on lines of credit, totaled $809.2 million, compared with $959.4 million for the same period in 2022. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the loan portfolio had net decreases of $56.6 million in construction loans, $23.3 million in commercial mortgage loans, $5.5 million in commercial loans, $3.7 million in residential mortgage loans and $3.1 million in consumer loans, partially offset by a net increase of $66.5 million in multi-family mortgage loans. Commercial real estate, commercial and construction loans represented 85.6% of the total loan portfolio at March 31, 2023, unchanged from 85.6% at December 31, 2022. The Company participates in loans originated by other banks, including participations designated as Shared National Credits (“SNCs”). The Company’s gross commitments and outstanding balances as a participant in SNCs were $211.3 million and $99.6 million, respectively, at March 31, 2023, compared to $203.9 million and $87.3 million, respectively, at December 31, 2022. No SNC relationships were 90 days or more delinquent at March 31, 2023. The Company had outstanding junior lien mortgages totaling $134.8 million at March 31, 2023. Of this total, six loans totaling $153,753 were 90 days or more delinquent with an allowance for credit losses of $2,575. 42 The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s non-performing assets as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands): March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Mortgage loans: Residential $ 1,744 $ 1,928 Commercial 6,815 28,212 Multi-family 1,548 1,565 Construction 1,874 1,878 Total mortgage loans 11,981 33,583 Commercial loans 23,129 24,188 Consumer loans 346 738 Total non-performing loans 35,456 58,509 Foreclosed assets 13,743 2,124 Total non-performing assets $ 49,199 $ 60,633 The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s 60-89 day delinquent loans as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 (in thousands): March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Mortgage loans: Residential $ 639 $ 1,114 Commercial 1,528 412 Multi-family 785 — Construction — 1,097 Total mortgage loans 2,952 2,623 Commercial loans 3,028 1,014 Consumer loans 150 147 Total 60-89 day delinquent loans $ 6,130 $ 3,784 At March 31, 2023, the Company’s allowance for credit losses related to the loan portfolio was 0.91% of total loans, compared to 0.86% and 0.79% at December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2022, respectively. The Company recorded a provision for credit losses on loans of $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared with a benefit of $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company had net charge-offs of $671,000, compared to net recoveries of $1.9 million for the same period in 2022. The allowance for credit losses increased $4.7 million to $92.8 million at March 31, 2023 from $88.0 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in the allowance for credit losses on loans was attributable to a worsening economic forecast and related deterioration in the projected commercial property price index over the expected life of the loan portfolio. Total non-performing loans were $35.5 million, or 0.35% of total loans at March 31, 2023, compared to $58.5 million, or 0.57% of total loans at December 31, 2022. The $23.1 million decrease in non-performing loans at March 31, 2023, compared to the trailing quarter, consisted of a $21.4 million decrease in non-performing commercial mortgage loans, a $1.1 million decrease in non-performing commercial loans, a $392,000 decrease in non-performing consumer loans and a $184,000 decrease in non-performing residential mortgage loans. Within the $21.4 million decrease in non-performing commercial mortgage loans, one loan totaling $12.2 million was moved to foreclosed assets in the current quarter. At March 31, 2023, December 31, 2022 and March 31, 2022, the Company held foreclosed assets of $13.7 million, $2.1 million and $8.6 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, there were two additions to foreclosed assets with an aggregate carrying value of $12.3 million and three properties sold with an aggregate carrying value of $666,000. Foreclosed assets at March 31, 2023 consisted primarily of commercial real estate. Total non-performing assets at March 31, 2023 decreased $11.4 million to $49.2 million, or 0.36% of total assets, from $60.6 million, or 0.44% of total assets at December 31, 2022. Total investments were $2.28 billion at March 31, 2023, a $23.6 million increase from December 31, 2022. This increase was largely due to a $27.8 million decrease in unrealized losses on available for sale debt securities, combined with purchases of 43 mortgage-backed and municipal securities, partially offset by repayments of mortgage-backed securities and maturities and calls of certain municipal and agency bonds. Total deposits decreased $265.7 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, to $10.30 billion. Total savings and demand deposit accounts decreased $452.9 million to $9.36 billion at March 31, 2023, while total time deposits increased $187.2 million to $938.6 million at March 31, 2023. The decrease in savings and demand deposits was largely attributable to a $257.5 million decrease in money market deposits, a $153.2 million decrease in non-interest bearing demand deposits, and an $87.4 million decrease in savings deposits, partially offset by a $45.2 million increase in interest bearing demand deposits. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, deposit balances from traditional non-interest and interest bearing demand deposits transitioned into our insured cash sweep ("ICS") product, as a method to increase the level of customers' deposit insurance in light of recent market turmoil. The Bank's ICS deposits increased $139.9 million to $198.8 million at March 31, 2023, from $58.9 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in time deposits consisted of a $134.2 million increase in retail time deposits and a $53.0 million increase in brokered time deposits. Borrowed funds increased $247.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, to $1.58 billion. The increase in borrowings was largely due to the replacement of demand deposits with FHLB borrowings and asset funding requirements. Borrowed funds represented 11.5% of total assets at March 31, 2023, an increase from 9.7% at December 31, 2022. Stockholders’ equity increased $42.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023, to $1.64 billion, primarily due to a decrease in unrealized losses on available for sale debt securities and net income earned for the period, partially offset by dividends paid to stockholders and common stock repurchases. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, common stock repurchases totaled 71,111 shares at an average cost of $23.35 per share, all of which were made in connection with withholding to cover income taxes on the vesting of stock-based compensation. At March 31, 2023, approximately 1.1 million shares remained eligible for repurchase under the current stock repurchase authorization. Liquidity and Capital Resources. Liquidity refers to the Company’s ability to generate adequate amounts of cash to meet financial obligations to its depositors, to fund loans and securities purchases and operating expenses. Sources of funds include scheduled amortization of loans, loan prepayments, scheduled maturities of unpledged investments, cash flows from securities and the ability to borrow funds from the FHLBNY and approved broker-dealers. Cash flows from loan payments and maturing investment securities are fairly predictable sources of funds. Changes in interest rates, local economic conditions and the competitive marketplace can influence loan prepayments, prepayments on mortgage-backed securities and deposit flows. For three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, loan repayments totaled $826.7 million and $883.1 million, respectively. As deposits have declined, the Company has continued to monitor and focus on deposit behavior and borrowing capacity with the FHLBNY and FRBNY, with current borrowing capacity of $1.28 billion and $1.45 billion, respectively at March 31, 2023. Our estimated uninsured and uncollateralized deposits at March 31, 2023 totaled $2.77 billion, which does not consider all of the benefit of different account titling conventions that may increase the insured balance for a particular account. At March 31, 2023, Provident Bank held on balance sheet liquidity and borrowing capacity totaling $3.59 billion, representing 130% of estimated uninsured and uncollateralized deposits. All borrowing capacity is immediately available. The Bank established the Bank Term Funding Program with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in March and pledged approximately $521 million in unencumbered security collateral to the facility improving its access to immediate funding. Advances under the Program can be requested until March 11, 2024. As of March 31, 2023, the Company has not taken any advances under the Program, but has this option as an available short term liquidity source. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, deposit balances from traditional non-interest and interest bearing demand deposits transitioned into our insured cash sweep ("ICS") product, as a method to increase the level of customers' deposit insurance in light of recent market turmoil. As of March 31, 2023 our ICS deposits totaled $198.8 million, compared to $58.9 million at December 31, 2022. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") and the other federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule that revised the leverage and risk-based capital requirements and the method for calculating risk-weighted assets to make them consistent with agreements that were reached by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, that were effective January 1, 2015. Among other things, the rule established a new common equity Tier 1 minimum capital requirement (4.5% of risk-weighted assets), adopted a uniform minimum leverage capital ratio at 4%, increased the minimum Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets requirement (from 4% to 6% of risk-weighted assets) and assigned a higher risk weight (150%) to exposures that are more than 90 days past due or are on non-accrual status and to certain commercial real estate facilities that finance the acquisition, development or construction of real property. The rule also required unrealized gains and losses on certain “available-for-sale” securities holdings to be included for purposes of calculating regulatory capital unless a one-time opt-out was exercised. The Company exercised the option to exclude 44 unrealized gains and losses from the calculation of regulatory capital. Additional constraints were also imposed on the inclusion in regulatory capital of mortgage-servicing assets, deferred tax assets and minority interests. The rule limits a banking organization’s capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments if the banking organization does not hold a “capital conservation buffer,” of 2.5% in addition to the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements. In the first quarter of 2020, U.S. federal regulatory authorities issued an interim final rule providing banking institutions that adopted CECL during the 2020 calendar year with the option to delay for two years the estimated impact of CECL on regulatory capital, followed by a three-year transition period to phase out the aggregate amount of the capital benefit provided during the initial two-year delay (i.e., a five year transition in total). In connection with its adoption of CECL on January 1, 2020, the Company elected to utilize the five-year CECL transition. At March 31, 2023, the Bank and the Company exceeded all current minimum regulatory capital requirements as follows: March 31, 2023 Required Required with Capital Conservation Buffer Actual Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio (Dollars in thousands) Bank: (1) Tier 1 leverage capital $ 531,077 4.00 % $ 531,077 4.00 % $ 1,296,273 9.76 % Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital 516,011 4.50 802,684 7.00 1,296,273 11.30 Tier 1 risk-based capital 688,015 6.00 974,688 8.50 1,296,273 11.30 Total risk-based capital 917,353 8.00 1,204,026 10.50 1,382,338 12.06 Company: Tier 1 leverage capital $ 531,299 4.00 % $ 531,299 4.00 % $ 1,350,890 10.17 % Common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital 516,255 4.50 803,063 7.00 1,338,003 11.66 Tier 1 risk-based capital 688,340 6.00 975,148 8.50 1,350,890 11.78 Total risk-based capital 917,787 8.00 1,204,595 10.50 1,436,955 12.53 (1) Under the FDIC's prompt corrective action provisions, the Bank is considered well capitalized if it has: a leverage (Tier 1) capital ratio of at least 5.00%; a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.50%; a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.00%; and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.00%. COMPARISON OF OPERATING RESULTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND 2022 General . The Company reported net income of $40.5 million, or $0.54 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to net income of $44.0 million, or $0.58 per basic and diluted share for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was negatively impacted by an increase in funding costs, an increase in the provision for credit losses due to a worsened economic forecast and an increase in non-interest expense attributable to increases in compensation and benefits expense and the increased cost of FDIC insurance, partially offset by an increase in non-interest income. Non-tax deductible transaction costs related to our pending merger with Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. (“Lakeland”) totaled $1.1 million in the current quarter, compared to $1.2 million for the trailing quarter. Net Interest Income. Net interest income represents the difference between income on interest-earning assets and expense on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income depends on the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the rates of interest earned on such assets and paid on such liabilities. The following table sets forth certain information for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022. For the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resultant yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities is expressed both in dollars and rates. No tax equivalent adjustments were made. Average balances are daily averages. 45 For the three months ended March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 Average Balance Interest Average Yield/Cost Average Balance Interest Average Yield/Cost (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited) Interest Earning Assets: Deposits $ 72,022 $ 845 4.76 % $ 274,004 $ 107 0.16 % Federal funds sold and other short-term investments 29 — 3.70 % 195,598 540 1.12 % Available for sale debt securities 1,808,619 10,402 2.30 % 2,115,852 7,577 1.43 % Held to maturity debt securities, net (1) 383,907 2,368 2.47 % 428,125 2,596 2.43 % Equity securities, at fair value 991 — — % 1,092 — — % Federal Home Loan Bank stock 59,106 1,028 6.96 % 30,907 374 4.85 % Net loans: (2) Total mortgage loans 7,643,140 95,988 5.02 % 7,061,657 63,835 3.62 % Total commercial loans 2,146,658 28,683 5.37 % 2,099,145 22,821 4.38 % Total consumer loans 304,058 4,242 5.66 % 321,029 3,139 3.97 % Total net loans 10,093,856 128,913 5.12 % 9,481,831 89,795 3.80 % Total interest earning assets $ 12,418,530 $ 143,556 4.63 % $ 12,527,409 $ 100,989 3.23 % Non-Interest Earning Assets: Cash and due from banks 142,953 122,856 Other assets 1,171,225 1,043,164 Total assets $ 13,732,708 $ 13,693,429 Interest Bearing Liabilities: Demand deposits $ 5,771,582 $ 21,920 1.54 % $ 6,288,544 $ 4,195 0.27 % Savings deposits 1,398,419 453 0.13 % 1,476,643 291 0.08 % Time deposits 859,773 5,137 2.42 % 680,818 701 0.42 % Total deposits 8,029,774 27,510 1.39 % 8,446,005 5,187 0.25 % Borrowed funds 1,224,279 7,476 2.48 % 549,679 1,168 0.86 % Subordinated debentures 10,511 246 9.51 % 10,301 108 4.27 % Total interest bearing liabilities $ 9,264,564 35,232 1.54 % $ 9,005,985 6,463 0.29 % Non-Interest Bearing Liabilities: Non-interest bearing deposits $ 2,550,796 $ 2,786,042 Other non-interest bearing liabilities 290,978 215,078 Total non-interest bearing liabilities 2,841,774 3,001,120 Total liabilities 12,106,338 12,007,105 Stockholders' equity 1,626,370 1,686,324 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 13,732,708 $ 13,693,429 Net interest income $ 108,324 $ 94,526 Net interest rate spread 3.09 % 2.94 % Net interest-earning assets $ 3,153,966 $ 3,521,424 Net interest margin (3) 3.48 % 3.02 % Ratio of interest-earning assets to total interest-bearing liabilities 1.34x 1.39x (1) Average outstanding balance amounts shown are amortized cost, net of allowance for credit losses. (2) Average outstanding balances are net of the allowance for loan losses, deferred loan fees and expenses, loan premiums and discounts and include non-accrual loans. (3) Annualized net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. 46 Total net interest income increased $13.8 million to $108.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, from $94.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Interest income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 increased $42.6 million to $143.6 million, from $101.0 million for the same period in 2022. Interest expense increased $28.8 million to $35.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, from $6.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The increase in net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2023, was primarily driven by an increase in the net interest margin resulting from the favorable repricing of adjustable rate loans, higher market rates on new loan originations and the investment of excess liquidity into higher-yielding loans, partially offset by the unfavorable repricing of both deposits and borrowings and a decrease in lower-costing deposits, which resulted in an increase in borrowings. Additionally, fees related to the forgiveness of PPP loans, which are recognized in interest income, decreased $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the net interest margin increased 46 basis points to 3.48%, compared to 3.02% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The weighted average yield on interest earning assets increased 140 basis points to 4.63% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to 3.23% for the three months ended March 31, 2022, while the weighted average cost of interest bearing liabilities increased 125 basis points to 1.54% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to 0.29% for the same period last year. The average cost of interest bearing deposits increased 114 basis points to 1.39% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to 0.25% for the same period last year. Average non-interest bearing demand deposits totaled $2.55 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared with $2.79 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The average cost of deposits, including non-interest bearing deposits, was 1.05% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared with 0.19% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The average cost of borrowings for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was 9.51%, compared to 0.86% for the same period last year. Interest income on loans secured by real estate increased $32.2 million to $96.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $63.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Commercial loan interest income increased $5.9 million to $28.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $22.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Consumer loan interest income increased $1.1 million to $4.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the average balance of total loans increased $612.0 million to $10.09 billion, from $9.48 billion for the same period in 2022. The average yield on total loans for the three months ended March 31, 2023, increased 132 basis points to 5.12%, from 3.80% for the same period in 2022. Interest income on held to maturity debt securities decreased $228,000 to $2.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared to the same period last year. Average held to maturity debt securities decreased $44.2 million to $383.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, from $428.1 million for the same period last year. Interest income on available for sale debt securities and FHLBNY stock increased $3.5 million to $11.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from $8.0 million for the same period last year. The average balance of available for sale debt securities and FHLBNY stock decreased $279.0 million to $1.87 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The average yield on total securities increased to 2.52% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared with 1.47% for the same period in 2022. Interest expense on deposit accounts increased $22.3 million to $27.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, compared with $5.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The average cost of interest bearing deposits increased to 1.39% for the first quarter of 2023, from 0.25% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, average interest bearing core deposits, which consist of total savings and demand deposits, decreased $595.2 million, to $7.17 billion, from $7.77 billion for the same period in 2022. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, average time deposit account balances increased $179.0 million, to $859.8 million, from $680.8 million for the same period in 2022. Interest expense on borrowed funds increased $6.3 million to $7.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, from $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The average cost of borrowings increased to 2.48% for the three months ended March 31, 2023, from 0.86% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Average borrowings increased $674.6 million to $1.22 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, from $549.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. Provision for Credit Losses. Provisions for credit losses are charged to operations in order to maintain the allowance for credit losses at a level management considers necessary to absorb projected credit losses that may arise over the expected term of each loan in the portfolio. In determining the level of the allowance for credit losses, management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information from internal and external sources relating to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable economic forecasts. The amount of the allowance is based on estimates, and the ultimate losses may vary from such estimates as more information becomes available or later events change. Management assesses the adequacy of the 47 allowance for credit losses on a quarterly basis and makes provisions for credit losses, if necessary, in order to maintain the valuation of the allowance. The Company recorded a $6.0 million provision for credit losses on loans for the three months ended March 31, 2023 compared with a benefit of $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The increase in provision was attributable to a worsening economic forecast and related deterioration in the projected commercial property price index over the expected life of the loan portfolio. Non-Interest Income. Non-interest income totaled $22.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, an increase of $2.0 million, compared to the same period in 2022. Other income increased $2.1 million to $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $1.2 million for the same period in 2022, mainly due to an additional $2.0 million gain recognized from the September 2022 sale of a foreclosed commercial property, representing additional sale proceeds held in escrow pending the resolution of certain post-closing conditions, combined with an increase in the gains on sale of SBA loans, partially offset by a decrease in net fees on loan-level interest rate swap transactions. Insurance agency income increased $682,000 to $4.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, resulting from an increase in business activity. BOLI income increased $305,000 to $1.5 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to higher equity valuations. Partially offsetting these increases in non-interest income, wealth management income decreased $551,000 to $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to a decrease in the market value of assets under management, while fee income decreased $502,000 to $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to a decrease in commercial loan prepayment fees. Non-Interest Expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, non-interest expense totaled $69.5 million, an increase of $7.6 million, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2022. Non-interest expense for the current quarter included $1.1 million in professional fees related to our pending merger with Lakeland. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company recorded a $739,000 provision for credit losses for off-balance sheet credit exposures, compared to a $2.4 million negative provision for the same period in 2022. The $3.1 million increase in provision was primarily due to the period over period decrease in line of credit utilization and an increase in projected loss factors as a result of a worsened economic forecast. Other operating expenses increased $2.8 million to $12.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, largely due to increases professional fees related to our pending merger with Lakeland, combined with additional expenses related to foreclosed commercial real estate owned properties. Compensation and benefits expense increased $1.7 million to $38.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to $37.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation and an increase in salary expense associated with Company-wide annual merit increases. In addition, FDIC insurance increased $732,000 to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022, primarily due to the recent FDIC action to increase deposit insurance assessment rates uniformly beginning in the first quarter of 2023. Partially offsetting these increases in non-interest expense, net occupancy expense decreased $920,000 to $8.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023, largely due to decreases in snow removal costs and rent expense. Income Tax Expense. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company’s income tax expense was $14.5 million with an effective tax rate of 26.3%, compared with income tax expense of $15.2 million with an effective tax rate of 25.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The decrease in tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2023, compared with the same period last year was largely the result of a decrease in taxable income, while the increase in the effective tax rate was primarily due to non-deductible merger related transaction costs incurred in the 2023 period.