CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virginia National Bankshares Corporation (OTCQX: VABK) today reported net income of $8.0 million, or $2.94 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is a 19.3% increase compared to net income of $6.7 million, or $2.49 per diluted share, recognized for the year ended December 31, 2019. Fourth quarter 2020 net income of $2.6 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, represents an increase of 82.8% compared to net income of $1.4 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, recognized during the fourth quarter of 2019.

“I am pleased to announce that our subsidiary bank posted the highest net income in the history of our franchise,” said Glenn W. Rust, President and Chief Executive Officer. “During the COVID-19 recession, we increased organic loan growth while maintaining strict asset quality standards, as evidenced by the low number and dollar amount of deferrals, non-accruals and past dues that remain on our books. Despite incurring nearly $1 million in merger-related expenses, we are proud to achieve $8.0 million in net income at the consolidated level. Through enhanced automation of processes and structured control of other expenses, we were able to continue to increase the value of our organization for our shareholders and our employees.”

Update on Our Response to COVID-19

• Paycheck Protection Program – During 2020, Virginia National Bank (the “Bank”) assisted nonprofit organizations and local businesses by funding $86.9 million of Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans, which were designed to provide economic relief to small businesses adversely impacted by COVID-19. The loans carry a 1% annual interest rate. As of December 31, 2020, 37% of the total dollars of PPP loans had been forgiven by the SBA, with $55.1 million outstanding. The Company recognized $2.1 million in PPP loan origination fees in 2020.
• Loan Deferments – Also to assist our customers whose businesses were impacted by COVID-19, we processed a total of $59.0 million in loan deferments since the beginning of the pandemic, of which $28.7 million, or 48.6%, were principal-only deferments; $20.0 million, or 33.9%, were principal and interest deferments; $8.6 million, or 14.5%, were government-guaranteed loans; and $1.8 million, or 3.0%, were student loans. As of December 31, 2020, $55.7 million in loan balances, or 94.3% of the total loan deferments approved, have returned to normal payment schedules and are now current, leaving a remaining balance of deferments of $3.3 million. Of this remaining balance, $2.8 million, or 83.9%, are 100% government-guaranteed loans for which the deferrals were approved by the United States Department of Agriculture; and $540 thousand, or 16.1%, are student loans, which are private student loans not subject to potential federal forgiveness. All organic, portfolio loans have come out of deferment and are now current.

2020 Full-Year and Selected Balance Sheet Financial Highlights

• Gross loans outstanding at December 31, 2020 totaled $609.4 million, an increase of $69.9 million, or 13.0% compared to December 31, 2019. The increase is due to the origination of PPP loans as noted above, of which $55.1 million remain outstanding as of December 31, 2020, as well as $14.8 million in net organic, non-PPP loan growth. Strategic decisions made in 2019 to expand the lending teams and add new products put us in a better position to increase organic loan growth without having to supplement the portfolio with purchased loans.

• The balance of loans in non-accrual status decreased to $8 thousand as of December 31, 2020, from $299 thousand as of December 31, 2019.
• Loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest amounted to $137 thousand as of December 31, 2020, compared to $771 thousand as of December 31, 2019. The December 2019 balance included a government guaranteed loan of approximately $548 thousand, which was brought current in 2020.
• The period-end allowance for loan losses (“ALLL”) as a percentage of total loans was 0.90% as of December 31, 2020, and 0.78% as of December 31, 2019. Note that the ALLL a percentage of total loans, excluding PPP loans, (a non-GAAP financial measure) would have been 0.98% as of December 31, 2020. (See “Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this release.)
• Return on average assets (“ROAA”) for 2020 was 1.00% compared to 1.02% realized in the prior year.
• Return on average equity (“ROAE”) for 2020 was 10.01% compared to 8.99% realized in 2019.
• A provision for loan losses of $1.6 million was recognized during 2020, compared to $1.4 million recognized in the prior year.
• The Company incurred $988 thousand in merger-related expenses during 2020 related to the combination with Fauquier Bankshares, Inc. (“Fauquier”), which is anticipated to close in the first half of 2021.
• The efficiency ratio on a fully tax equivalent basis (“FTE”) (a non-GAAP financial measure) was 61.4% for 2020, compared to 64.9% for 2019. (See “Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this release.)
• The loan-to-deposit ratio was 83.4% at December 31, 2020, compared to 86.9% at December 31, 2019.
• Net interest income for 2020 of $23.9 million increased $2.0 million or 8.9%, compared to 2019. The higher net interest income was driven by the increase in interest and fees on loans of $765 thousand period-over-period, and the increase in interest on investment securities of $623 thousand, as well as the decline in interest expense of $922 thousand.
• The cost of funds of 47 basis points (“bps”) incurred in 2020 decreased 27 bps from 74 bps in 2019, due to lower rates paid on deposit accounts. Low-cost deposits, which include noninterest checking accounts and interest-bearing checking, savings and money market accounts, remained in excess of 82% of total deposits at the end of 2020 and 2019.
• Noninterest income for 2020 increased $1.0 million, or 18.3%, compared to 2019, primarily due to the increase in loan swap fee income of $1.1 million. Gains on sales of securities increased $669 thousand over the same period. Also, in 2020 the Company realized a partial recovery of $401 thousand of unearned insurance premiums related to the loss of insurance on the student loan portfolio. The Company expects to receive the balance of unearned premiums of approximately $400 thousand in 2021. These increases in 2020 were offset by declines in wealth management fee income of $565 thousand, bank-owned life insurance earnings related to a death benefit of $361 thousand received in 2019, and fees on mortgage sales of $112 thousand due to elimination of the department.
• Noninterest expense for 2020 increased $895 thousand, or 5.0%, compared to 2019, largely due to $988 thousand of merger-related expenses. Salaries and employee benefits increased $217 thousand, or 2.4%, and the Company incurred $183 thousand in expenses in 2020 directly related to COVID-19. In 2019, the Company incurred an expense of $460 thousand related to the settlement of a claim.
• Tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2020 was $30.17, compared to $27.98 as of December 31, 2019.
• The effective tax rate for 2020 amounts to 20.6%, compared to 18.6% for 2019. The non-deductibility of certain merger-related expenses for tax purposes in 2020 caused the effective rate to increase while the tax-exempt bank-owned life insurance death benefit in 2019 caused the effective rate to decline in that year.
• Capital ratios continue to be well in excess of regulatory requirements for well-capitalized banks.

Fourth Quarter 2020 Selected Financial Highlights

• A provision for loan losses of $255 thousand was recognized during the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to a provision of $875 thousand during the fourth quarter of 2019.
• Fourth quarter 2020 net interest income increased $1.3 million, or 23.6%, compared to the amount recognized in the fourth quarter of 2019. The increase in fees on loans of $736 thousand and the decline in interest expense of $508 thousand contributed to this overall increase period-over-period.
• The cost of funds incurred in the fourth quarter of 2020 was 36 bps, an improvement of 40 bps over the 76 bps incurred during the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the decline in interest paid on deposits.
• Net interest margin (FTE) (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 1 basis point to 3.32% compared to 3.31% for the fourth quarter of 2019. (See “Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures” at the end of this release.)
• Noninterest income for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $380 thousand, or 25.9%, to $1.8 million, compared to $1.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2019, due to fluctuations in several categories. As noted above, the Company realized a partial recovery of $401 thousand in 2020 of unearned insurance premiums related to the student loan portfolio. Loan swap fee income increased $286 thousand, however wealth management fees declined $240 thousand and fees on mortgage sales declined $60 thousand.
• Noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2020 increased $670 thousand, or 15.9%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2019 due largely to $439 thousand in merger-related expenses. In addition, marketing expense increased $105 thousand from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the same period in 2020 due to the timing of expenses, and FDIC assessment expense increased $99 thousand period-over-period due to the expiration of credits. The Company also incurred $46 thousand in expenses in the fourth quarter of 2020 directly related to COVID-19.
• Cash dividends of $814 thousand were declared during the fourth quarter of 2020, while the remaining net income of $1.8 million, or 68.9%, was retained.

About Virginia National Bankshares Corporation

Virginia National Bankshares Corporation, headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, is the bank holding company for Virginia National Bank. The Bank has four banking offices in Charlottesville and one in Winchester, and offers loan, deposit and treasury management services in Mechanicsville and Richmond, Virginia. The Bank offers a full range of banking and related financial services to meet the needs of individuals, businesses and charitable organizations, including the fiduciary services of VNB Trust and Estate Services. The Bank offers investment advisory services under the name of Sturman Wealth Advisors. Investment management services are offered through Masonry Capital Management, LLC, a registered investment adviser and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

The Company’s stock trades on the OTC Markets Group’s OTCQX Market under the symbol “VABK.” Additional information on the Company is also available at www.vnbcorp.com.