First Us Bancshares Inc (FUSB) SEC Filing 10-Q Quarterly report for the period ending Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Exhibit 99.1

FIRST US BANCSHARES, INC.

ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER 2020 RESULTS

BIRMINGHAM, AL (October 30, 2020) – First US Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: FUSB) (the “Company”), the parent company of First US Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $0.4 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 (“3Q2020”), compared to $0.4 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 (“2Q2020”) and $1.1 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 (“3Q2019”). For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company’s net income totaled $1.7 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, compared to $3.4 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2019.

Net interest income improved to $9.0 million in 3Q2020, compared to $8.6 million in the previous quarter. The increase in net interest income was driven by significant loan growth during the quarter. Total loans averaged $609.6 million during 3Q2020, compared to $557.5 million during 2Q2020, an increase of $52.1 million, or 9.3%. The linked quarter growth in net interest income was partially offset by an increase in the provision for loan and lease losses in response to loan growth, as well as a modest reserve build in light of the current economic environment.

James F. House, President and CEO of the Company, stated, “We are pleased with the third quarter results, particularly in light of the challenging operating environment that we have experienced in 2020. The strong credit quality of our loan portfolio that has been built over the past several years has provided a solid footing that enables us to move forward in pursuing our loan growth initiatives. Our COVID-19-related payment deferments decreased to $18.4 million, or 2.9% of the loan portfolio, as of September 30, 2020, compared to $95.2 million, or 16.5% of the loan portfolio, as of June 30, 2020. In addition, we continue to gain insight as to the impact of the pandemic on our portfolio. As a result of the improving clarity and outlook, we were able to focus considerable effort during the quarter on loan growth, as well as our initiatives to reduce deposit costs, both of which should enhance earnings over time.”

Third Quarter 2020 Highlights

Loan Growth – Total loans increased by $61.1 million as of September 30, 2020 compared to June 30, 2020. The increase was most pronounced in indirect sales lending and commercial real estate lending, which grew by $35.4 million and $27.6 million, respectively, in 3Q2020, and the residential 1-4 family real estate portfolio also grew by $2.1 million in 3Q2020. The Company’s indirect sales portfolio is comprised of loans secured by collateral that generally includes recreational vehicles, campers, boats and horse trailers. Effective January 1, 2020, the portfolio was transferred to the Bank from Acceptance Loan Company, the Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary (“ALC”). During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for this financing has grown substantially as consumers seek alternatives to more traditional travel and leisure activities. The growth in commercial real estate lending was focused on borrowers that management determined to be of appropriate credit quality and structure in the current environment under the Bank’s established underwriting criteria. Growth in indirect lending and commercial real estate lending was partially offset by decreases in the Bank’s commercial and industrial portfolio totaling $0.9 million, as well as a reduction in direct consumer lending, primarily through ALC’s branch system, that totaled $3.1 million during the quarter.

Net Interest Income – 3Q2020 net interest income increased by $0.3 million as a result of loan growth and the resulting shift of a portion of excess cash balances to higher-yielding assets. Net interest margin decreased nine basis points to 4.56% for 3Q2020, compared to 4.65% for 2Q2020. However, as a result of earning asset mix changes, combined with continued efforts to reduce deposit costs, reductions in net interest margin slowed in 3Q2020 compared to the previous quarter.

The interest rate environment precipitated by the pandemic has put significant pressure on our net interest margin, particularly in 2Q2020, as yields on interest-earning assets generally shifted downward more rapidly than rates on interest-bearing liabilities. During 3Q2020, management continued efforts to reprice deposit products in a manner consistent with the current environment. As a result of these efforts, the weighted average annualized rate paid for interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 0.68% for 3Q2020, compared to 0.80% for 2Q2020 and 1.16% for 3Q2019. Annualized total funding costs (including both interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing deposits and borrowings) decreased 10 basis points to 0.54% for 3Q2020, compared to 0.64% for 2Q2020 and 0.97% for 3Q2019. If the current interest rate environment continues, management expects to further reduce interest costs as interest-bearing liabilities continue to reprice.