FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- White River Bancshares Company (OTCQX: WRIV), (the “Company”) the holding company for Signature Bank of Arkansas (the “Bank”), today reported net income increased to $2.63 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $509,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024. The Company reported net income of $1.83 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, for the prior quarter. All financial results are unaudited and all per share data has been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split effected September 4, 2024.

“Thanks to a solid start to the year, we produced the strongest first quarter earnings in our Bank’s history,” said Gary Head, Chairman and CEO. “Loan portfolio growth contributed to an increase in net interest income compared to the first quarter of 2024. This is exactly the kind of excitement I’ve been ‘banking on’ as we head into the second quarter and celebrate the Bank’s 20 year anniversary. I am confident in our team’s capability and enthusiasm to build upon this momentum for the rest of the year.”

“Expanding our deposit base to fund new loan growth remains our top priority, and also our biggest challenge as a community bank,” said Scott Sandlin, Chief Strategy Officer. “The Company has made deposit gathering the primary focus and our team has done an excellent job of expanding existing client relationships as well as attracting new customers to the Bank. As a result, total deposits increased 9.9% during the first quarter of 2025 and 18.9% year-over-year. At quarter end, demand and non-interest bearing accounts represented 19.3% of total deposits, and savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts represented 38.0% of total deposits. We will continue to look for additional opportunities for growing deposits in the year ahead to keep up with loan demand.”

First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

• Net income for the first quarter of 2025 increased to $2.63 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, compared to $509,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024.
• Net interest income increased 32.0% to $10.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024.
• Net interest margin (“NIM”) increased 42 basis points to 3.39% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 2.97% in the first quarter of 2024.
• The Company recorded a $670,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a $550,000 provision in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a $648,000 provision in the first quarter of 2024.
• Net loans increased 16.3% to $1.128 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $969.7 million at March 31, 2024.
• Nonperforming loans totaled $420,000, or 0.04% of total loans at March 31, 2025, compared to 0.18% a year ago.
• Total deposits increased $190.7 million, or 18.9%, year-over-year, to $1.201 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.010 billion at March 31, 2024.
• Core deposits (demand and non-interest-bearing, and savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts, and CDs under $250,000) represent 70.25% of total deposits at March 31, 2025.
• Total risk-based capital ratio estimates of 12.30%, Tier 1 ratio of 11.05%, and Leverage ratio of 9.35% for the Bank at March 31, 2025.
• Tangible book value per common share was $40.33 at March 31, 2025, compared to $39.05 a year ago.

Income Statement

In the first quarter of 2025, the Company generated a return on average assets of 0.79% and a return on average equity of 10.64%, compared to 0.58% and 7.34%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 0.18% and 2.52%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2024.

“Our strong loan growth and higher yields on interest earning assets contributed to the four basis point NIM expansion during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the prior quarter and the 42 basis point increase compared to the year ago quarter,” said Brant Ward, President. NIM was 3.39% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3.35% in the fourth quarter of 2024, and 2.97% in the first quarter of 2024.

Net interest income increased 32.0% to $10.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to year-over-year loan growth. Total interest income increased 23.6% to $19.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $16.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, primarily attributable to increased loans. Total interest expense increased to $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, from $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to an increase in deposit costs.

Noninterest income increased 22.7% to $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to a $172,000 increase in wealth management fee income, the largest component of noninterest income, and a $72,000 increase in secondary market fee income during the first quarter of 2025.

Noninterest expense was $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, as expenses have normalized following the investment in expanding the Company’s market presence over the past few years.

Balance Sheet

Total assets increased 17.2% to $1.379 billion at March 31, 2025, from $1.177 billion at March 31, 2024, and increased 7.0% compared to $1.290 billion at December 31, 2024. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $48.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $33.4 million a year ago. Investment securities totaled $135.0 million at March 31, 2025, an increase from $113.0 million at March 31, 2024.

Loans, net of allowance for credit losses, increased 16.3% to $1.128 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $969.7 million at March 31, 2024, and increased 6.0% compared to $1.064 billion at December 31, 2024.

Total deposits increased 18.9% to $1.201 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.010 billion at March 31, 2024, and increased 9.9% compared to $1.093 billion at December 31, 2024. Demand and non-interest-bearing deposits decreased less than 1% compared to March 31, 2024 while savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts increased 34.7% compared to March 31, 2024.

FHLB advances were $21.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $36.9 million at March 31, 2024, and $43.7 million at December 31, 2024. Total stockholders’ equity increased to $100.5 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $79.4 million at March 31, 2024, and $96.6 million at December 31, 2024. Tangible book value per common share was $40.33 at March 31, 2025, compared to $39.05 at March 31, 2024, and $38.74 at December 31, 2024.

Credit Quality

Due to strong quarterly loan growth, the Company recorded a $670,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2025. This is compared to a $550,000 provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a $648,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2024.

There were $420,000 in nonperforming loans at March 31, 2025. This compared to $55,000 in nonperforming loans at December 31, 2024, and $1.7 million in nonperforming loans at March 31, 2024. Nonperforming loans represented 0.04% of total loans on March 31, 2025, 0.01% of total loans on December 31, 2024, and 0.18% of total loans a year ago.

“We continue to take a prudent approach to building our allowance for credit losses by monitoring our portfolio mix and evaluating loan growth and local and national economic conditions to maintain what we believe to be an appropriate allowance,” said Jeff Maland, Chief Risk Officer. The allowance for credit losses was $13.3 million, or 1.17% of total loans, at March 31, 2025, compared to $12.8 million, or 1.19% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, and $12.1 million, or 1.23% of total loans, at March 31, 2024.

Net loan charge-offs were $137,000 in the first quarter of 2025. This compared to net loan recoveries of $106,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024, and net loan recoveries of $21,000 in the first quarter of 2024.

Capital

The Bank’s capital ratios continued to exceed regulatory “well-capitalized” requirements, with a Total risk-based capital ratio estimate of 12.30%, a Tier 1 ratio of 11.05%, and a Leverage ratio of 9.35% for the Bank at March 31, 2025.

About White River Bancshares Company

White River Bancshares Company is the single bank holding company for Signature Bank of Arkansas, headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Bank has locations in Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Rogers, Brinkley, Harrison and Jonesboro, Arkansas. Founded in 2005, Signature Bank of Arkansas provides a full line of financial services to small businesses, families and farms. White River Bancshares Company (OTCQX: WRIV), trades on the OTCQX^® Best Market.  

White River Bancshares Company and Signature Bank of Arkansas will celebrate its 20-year anniversary in May 2025.

About the Region

White River Bancshares Company is headquartered in thriving Northwest Arkansas in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA. The region is home to the corporate headquarters for Walmart Stores Inc, Sam’s Club, Tyson Foods, Simmons Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport. Hundreds of other market-leading companies including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola and Rubbermaid maintain offices in the region in order to maintain their relationships with the locally based Fortune 500 companies. Northwest Arkansas is also home to the state’s flagship public educational institution, The University of Arkansas, and its Sam M. Walton College of Business. The region has seen significant growth in its medical and arts infrastructures with the continued expansion of Washington Regional Medical System, Northwest Medical System, Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Walton Arts Center have led the expansion of the arts. Northwest Arkansas has been repeatedly recognized in recent years as one of the best places to live in the country and remains one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. In May 2024, Walmart issued a relocation mandate requiring most of its remote employees, as well as most of its office workers in Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto to move to, in most cases, Bentonville by November 1, 2024. While the company did not disclose a number, Bloomberg reported that the number of Walmart employees who would be moving to Bentonville would be in the thousands. Walmart is making a major investment in its hometown facilities, building a new, 350-acre headquarters campus, including walking and biking trails, a hotel, fitness facilities and a large childcare center.

The Company has expanded eastward, with new markets in Jonesboro and Harrison. Jonesboro, located in Craighead County, is a city located on Crowley's Ridge in the northeastern corner of Arkansas. It is the home of Arkansas State University and the cultural and economic center of Northeast Arkansas. Jonesboro also houses the region’s hospital network. U.S. Steel Corp. announced that it would locate a new $3 billion steel factory in Northeast Arkansas in Osceola, a move expected to create 900 jobs with an average pay over $100,000 annually, making it the largest capital investment project in Arkansas history. Harrison sits below Branson, Missouri, which is a family tourist destination and outdoor recreation, and is well known as an entertainment destination.

The Company currently operates out of ten locations; three in Washington County; three in Benton County; two in Monroe County; one in Boone County; and one in Craighead County.

The housing market in Washington and Benton counties remains robust. According to the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors, the average home in Washington County sold for $390,000 in February 2025, with an average of 103 days on the market. For Benton County, the average house sold for $446,000, with an average of 108 days on the market.

Source:
http://www.nwarealtors.org/market-statistics/

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements about future events. These forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions of management of the Company and the Bank and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms. Our ability to predict results of future events and the actual effect of future plans or strategies are inherently uncertain, and actual results may differ materially from those predicted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or that could affect the outcome of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates; the economic health of the local real estate market; general economic conditions; credit deterioration in our loan portfolio that would cause us to increase our allowance for loan losses; legislative or regulatory changes; technological developments; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; the quality or composition of our loan and securities portfolios; demand for loan products in our market areas; deposit flows and costs of capital; competition; retention and recruitment of qualified personnel; demand for financial services in our market areas; and changes in accounting principles, policies, and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Contact:		Scott Sandlin, Chief Strategy Officer
		479-684-3754

WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
			For the Three Months Ended
			March 31,			December 31,			March 31,
			2025			2024			2024
INTEREST INCOME
Loans, including fees			$	18,315,006		$	17,118,955		$	14,994,922
Investment securities				1,258,571			1,300,977			929,040
Federal funds sold and other				232,978			262,856			96,154
Total interest income				19,806,555			18,682,788			16,020,116
INTEREST EXPENSE
Deposits				8,312,455			7,963,925			6,984,793
Federal Home Loan Bank advances				393,057			300,137			520,319
Notes payable				475,425			396,899			398,017
Federal funds purchased and other				13,022			4,101			78,260
Total interest expense				9,193,959			8,665,062			7,981,389
NET INTEREST INCOME				10,612,596			10,017,726			8,038,727
Provision for credit losses				670,000			550,000			648,000
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES				9,942,596			9,467,726			7,390,727
NON-INTEREST INCOME
Service charges and fees on deposits				171,186			182,870			150,349
Wealth management fee income				1,017,829			1,035,160			845,506
Secondary market fee income				128,824			196,277			57,064
Bank owned-life insurance income				80,603			82,171			79,881
Gain on sales and write-downs of foreclosed assets				-			11,085			1,050
Other				544,141			535,284			449,255
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME				1,942,583			2,042,847			1,583,105
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and benefits				4,931,692			5,226,075			4,999,533
Occupancy and equipment				1,145,101			1,130,174			928,124
Data processing				858,115			806,411			790,569
Marketing and business development				397,137			518,628			463,697
Professional services				650,708			660,860			669,867
Amortization of other intangible assets				53,036			53,032			53,036
Other				393,498			445,998			403,836
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE				8,429,287			8,841,178			8,308,662
Income before income taxes				3,455,892			2,669,395			665,170
Income tax provision				826,085			834,444			155,942
NET INCOME			$	2,629,807		$	1,834,951		$	509,228
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic (1)			$	1.07		$	0.75		$	0.26
Diluted (1)			$	1.07		$	0.75		$	0.26
		(1)	Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024.

WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
			March 31, 2025				December 31, 2024				March 31, 2024
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents			$	48,360,156			$	22,149,012			$	33,147,221
Investment securities				134,968,153				133,228,210				113,033,028
Loans held for sale				874,009				1,117,750				696,271
Loans				1,141,369,199				1,076,674,377				981,829,042
Allowance for credit losses				(13,347,855	)			(12,814,824	)			(12,113,099	)
Net loans				1,128,021,344				1,063,859,553				969,715,943
Premises and equipment, net				35,647,835				36,335,828				29,442,303
Foreclosed assets held for sale				310,406				310,406				640,574
Accrued interest receivable				6,629,881				6,035,084				4,966,665
Bank owned life insurance				9,859,911				9,779,307				9,534,373
Deferred income taxes				4,220,559				4,390,227				4,888,369
Other investments				6,782,614				8,421,651				7,548,338
Intangible assets, net				1,750,204				1,803,240				1,962,350
Other assets				1,825,830				2,080,346				1,323,255
TOTAL ASSETS			$	1,379,250,902			$	1,289,510,614			$	1,176,898,690
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Deposits:
Demand and non-interest-bearing			$	231,331,391			$	214,838,920			$	233,082,292
Savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts				456,733,576				429,293,348				339,042,365
Time deposits				512,882,444				448,909,115				438,110,170
Total deposits				1,200,947,411				1,093,041,383				1,010,234,827
Federal Home Loan Bank advances				21,593,143				43,667,559				36,887,028
Notes payable				26,141,832				26,124,556				26,337,909
Operating lease liability				20,029,714				20,851,721				16,128,536
Reserve for losses on unfunded commitments				1,478,000				1,478,000				1,433,000
Accrued interest payable				2,731,699				2,838,298				2,635,771
Other liabilities				5,798,159				4,919,715				3,868,383
TOTAL LIABILITIES				1,278,719,958				1,192,921,232				1,097,525,454
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock (1)				24,882				24,854				20,162
Surplus (1)				102,784,831				102,679,096				90,538,459
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)				4,714,375				2,084,568				(3,115,687	)
Treasury stock, at cost				(1,265,731	)			(1,265,715	)			(1,119,100	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(5,727,413	)			(6,933,421	)			(6,950,598	)
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY				100,530,944				96,589,382				79,373,236
	TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY		$	1,379,250,902			$	1,289,510,614			$	1,176,898,690
		(1)	Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024.

WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
			(Unaudited)
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,				December 31,				March 31,
			2025				2024				2024
FOR THE PERIOD
Net income			$	2,629,807			$	1,834,951			$	509,228
Net income before taxes				3,455,892				2,669,395				665,170
Dividends declared per share (1)				-				-				-
PERIOD END BALANCE
Total assets			$	1,379,250,902			$	1,289,510,614			$	1,176,898,690
Total investments				134,968,153				133,228,210				113,033,028
Total loans, net				1,128,021,344				1,063,859,553				969,715,943
Allowance for credit losses				(13,347,855	)			(12,814,824	)			(12,113,099	)
Total deposits				1,200,947,411				1,093,041,383				1,010,234,827
Stockholders' equity				100,530,944				96,589,382				79,373,236
RATIO ANALYSIS
Return on average assets (annualized)				0.79	%			0.58	%			0.18	%
Return on average equity (annualized)				10.64	%			7.34	%			2.52	%
Net loans/Deposits				93.93	%			97.33	%			95.99	%
Total Stockholders' Equity/Total assets				7.29	%			7.49	%			6.74	%
Net loan losses/Total loans				0.01	%			-0.01	%			-0.00	%
Uninsured & unpledged deposits				31.00	%			31.78	%			30.22	%
PER SHARE DATA
Shares oustanding (1)				2,449,317				2,446,563				1,982,630
Weighted average shares outstanding (1)				2,446,747				2,446,241				1,983,378
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (1)				2,451,161				2,446,471				1,983,378
Basic earnings (1)			$	1.07			$	0.75			$	0.26
Diluted earnings (1)				1.07				0.75				0.26
Book value (1)				41.04				39.48				40.03
Tangible book value (1)				40.33				38.74				39.05
ASSET QUALITY
Net (recoveries) charge-offs			$	136,970			$	(106,340	)		$	(21,195	)
Classified assets				853,745				494,828				2,657,273
Nonperforming loans				419,985				55,132				1,718,805
Nonperforming assets				730,391				365,538				2,359,378
Total nonperforming loans/Total loans				0.04	%			0.01	%			0.18	%
Total nonperforming loans/Total assets				0.03	%			0.00	%			0.15	%
Total nonperforming assets/Total assets				0.05	%			0.03	%			0.20	%
Allowance for credit losses/Total loans				1.17	%			1.19	%			1.23	%
		(1)	Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024.

WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
INTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE
(Unaudited)
			Three Months Ended
			March 31,									December 31,									March 31,
			2025									2024									2024
			Average						Average			Average						Average			Average						Average
			Balance			Interest			Yield/Rate			Balance			Interest			Yield/Rate			Balance			Interest			Yield/Rate
Interest-earning assets:
Federal funds sold and other			$	23,287,989		$	232,978		4.06	%		$	20,998,114		$	262,856		4.98	%		$	8,343,674		$	96,154		4.63	%
Investment securities available-for-sale (1)				133,405,472			1,208,821		3.67	%			132,386,055			1,150,282		3.46	%			114,440,538			900,886		3.17	%
Loans receivable				1,106,648,533			18,315,006		6.71	%			1,018,919,798			17,118,955		6.68	%			960,808,253			14,994,922		6.28	%
Total interest-earning assets				1,263,341,994		$	19,756,805		6.34	%			1,172,303,967		$	18,532,093		6.29	%			1,083,592,465		$	15,991,962		5.94	%
Noninterest-earning assets				81,821,189									81,203,717									70,720,928
Total assets			$	1,345,163,183								$	1,253,507,684								$	1,154,313,393
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Interest-bearing deposits			$	937,669,969		$	8,312,455		3.60	%		$	847,808,178		$	7,963,925		3.74	%		$	762,899,599		$	6,984,793		3.68	%
FHLB advances and federal funds purchased				36,654,930			406,079		4.49	%			28,097,088			304,238		4.31	%			50,749,219			598,579		4.74	%
Notes payable				26,131,761			475,425		7.38	%			26,118,547			396,899		6.05	%			25,489,325			398,017		6.28	%
Total interest-bearing liabilities				1,000,456,660		$	9,193,959		3.73	%			902,023,813		$	8,665,062		3.82	%			839,138,143		$	7,981,389		3.83	%
Noninterest-bearing liabilities				244,466,979									252,089,008									233,847,965
Total liabilities				1,244,923,639									1,154,112,821									1,072,986,108
Stockholders' equity				100,239,544									99,394,863									81,327,285
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$	1,345,163,183								$	1,253,507,684								$	1,154,313,393
Net interest-earning assets			$	262,885,334								$	270,280,154								$	244,454,322
Net interest spread						$	10,562,846		2.62	%					$	9,867,031		2.47	%					$	8,010,573		2.11	%
Net interest margin									3.39	%								3.35	%								2.97	%
		(1)	Excludes investments in bank stock (Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank, and First National Bankers Bankshares).

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.