“We continued to produce high levels of loan portfolio originations in the third quarter. In part due to historically low prepayments in multifamily loans, in the first three quarters of 2022 our total loans held for investment increased 31%," added Mr. Mason. We anticipate continuing low mortgage banking rate locks volumes and decreased loan portfolio originations in the fourth quarter due to rising interest rates and economic uncertainty.”

(1)Return on average tangible equity and the efficiency ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation of return on average tangible equity to the nearest comparable GAAP financial measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this earnings release.

(1)Tangible book value per share and tangible common equity to tangible assets are non-GAAP financial measures. For a reconciliation to the nearest comparable GAAP financial measure, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in this earnings release.

(2)This ratio excludes balances insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA or SBA.

(3)Regulatory capital ratios at September 31, 2022 are preliminary.

 

Our net income and income before taxes were $20.4 million and $26.5 million, respectively, in the third quarter of 2022, as compared to $17.7 million and $22.4 million, respectively, in the second quarter of 2022. The $4.0 million increase in income before taxes was due to higher net interest income, higher noninterest income and lower noninterest expense.

Our effective tax rate was 23.0% in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to 21.0% in second quarter of 2022 and a statutory rate of 25.3%. While our effective tax rate was lower than our statutory rate due to the benefits of tax advantaged investments, our effective tax rate in the third quarter of 2022 was higher than the second quarter of 2022 due to the diminishing impact of tax-exempt interest.

Net interest income was $3.0 million higher in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to the second quarter of 2022 due primarily to a 13% increase in average interest earning assets, which was partially offset by a decrease in our net interest margin from 3.27% to 3.00%. The increase in the average balance of interest-earning assets was due to the high level of loan originations during the third quarter. Our net interest margin decreased to 3.00% as a 67 basis point increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities was partially offset by a 27 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets. Yields on interest-earning assets increased as the yields on loan originations during the third quarter were higher than the rates of our existing portfolio of loans and yields on adjustable rate loans increased due to increases in the indexes on which their pricing is based. The increase in the rates paid on our interest-bearing liabilities was due to higher deposit costs, higher borrowing costs and an increase in the proportion of higher cost borrowings used as our sources of funding. Our cost of borrowings increased 122 basis points during the third quarter while the cost of deposits increased 32 basis points. Additionally, our average borrowings increased by $769 million to fund the growth of our loan portfolio. The increases in yields on interest-earning assets and the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities were due to the significant increases in market interest rates during the first nine months of 2022.

No provision for credit losses was recorded during the second or third quarter of 2022 as the benefits of the continuing favorable performance of our loan portfolio was used to offset any required additions to our ACL resulting from the growth in our loan portfolio.

The increase in noninterest income in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to an increase in other income due to a $4.3 million gain on sale of five eastern Washington branches. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in net gain on loan origination and sale activities due primarily to a $2.2 million decrease in single family gain on loan origination and sale activities. The decrease in single family gain on loan origination and sale activities was primarily due to a decrease in rate lock volume as a result of the effects of increasing interest rates.

The $0.7 million decrease in noninterest expense in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to the second quarter of 2022 was primarily due to lower compensation and benefit costs, which was partially offset by higher general, administrative and other costs. The decrease in compensation and benefit costs was due to reduced headcount due to the sale of the five eastern Washington branches and lower commission and bonus expenses. General, administrative and other costs increased in the third quarter of 2022 as compared to second quarter of 2022 due to an increase in marketing costs related to our promotional deposit products and higher FDIC fees due to our larger asset base.

Our net income and income before taxes were $58.0 million and $73.5 million, respectively, in the nine months ended September 30, 2022, as compared to $86.0 million and $109.0 million, respectively, in the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The $35.4 million decrease in income before taxes was due to lower noninterest income, partially offset by higher net interest income and lower noninterest expense.

Our effective tax rate during nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was 21.1% and our statutory rate was 25.3% in 2022 and 24.2% in 2021. Our effective tax rate for both periods was lower than our statutory rate due to the benefits of tax advantaged investments and reductions in taxes on income related to excess tax benefits resulting from the exercise and vesting of stock awards during the periods.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 increased $7.6 million as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021 due primarily to increases in the average balance of interest earning assets, partially offset by a decrease in our net interest margin. The increase in interest-earning assets was due to the high level of loan originations and purchases of investment securities during the first nine months of 2022. Our net interest margin decreased from 3.39% in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 to 3.17% in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 due to a 39 basis point increase in the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities which was partially offset by a nine basis point increase in the yield on interest earning assets. The increase in yield on interest-earning assets was primarily due to higher yields on investment securities due to adjustments to yields realized from longer estimated lives of certain securities and the yields of securities purchased during the first nine months of 2022 being higher than the yields on our existing portfolio. The increase in the rates paid on our interest-bearing liabilities was due to higher deposit costs, higher borrowing costs and an increase in the proportion of higher cost borrowings used as our sources of funding. The increases in the rates paid on deposits was due to the significant increase in market interest rates during the first nine months of 2022. Our average borrowings increased by $653 million to fund the growth of our loan portfolio and investment securities. Our cost of borrowings increased from 33 basis points during the first nine months of 2021 to 199 basis points during the first nine months of 2022 due to the significant increase in market interest rates during the first nine months of 2022 and the impact of the $100 million subordinated notes offering completed in January 2022.

As a result of the favorable performance of our loan portfolio, a stable low level of nonperforming assets and an improved outlook of the estimated impact of COVID-19 on our loan portfolio, we recorded a $9 million recovery of our allowance for credit losses in both the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.

The decrease in noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was due to a decrease in gain on loan origination and sale activities, which was partially offset by higher loan servicing income and the $4.3 million gain on sale of eastern Washington branches. The $56.0 million decrease in gain on loan origination and sale activities was due to a $44.4 million decrease in single family gain on loan origination and sale activities and a $11.7 million decrease in CRE and commercial gain on loan origination and sale activities. The decrease in single family gain on loan origination and sale activities was due to a decrease in rate lock volume and margins as a result of the effects of increasing interest rates. The decrease in CRE and commercial gain on loan origination and sale activities was primarily due to an 72% decrease in the volume of loans sold. The $5.0 million increase in loan servicing income was primarily due to lower levels of prepayments.

The $6.4 million decrease in noninterest expense in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was due to lower compensation and benefit costs, partially offset by increases in information services and general, administrative and other expenses. The $11.8 million decrease in compensation and benefit costs was primarily due to reduced commission expense on lower loan origination volumes in our single family mortgage operations, lower bonus expense and lower headcount, which were partially offset by wage increases given in 2022. The increase in information services costs was due to the implementation of new systems in the second quarter of 2022 and higher activity levels. The

increase in general, administrative and other costs was primarily due to a $1.9 million reimbursement of legal costs received from our insurance carrier in the first nine months of September 30, 2021, nonrecurring costs expended on litigation activities and legal matters in 2022 and an increase in marketing costs related to our promotional deposit products.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, our total assets increased $1.9 billion due primarily to a $1.7 billion increase in loans held for investment and a $305 million increase in investment securities which were partially offset by a decrease of $162 million in loans held for sale. Loans held for investment increased due to $3.0 billion of originations, which were partially offset by prepayments and scheduled payments of $1.3 billion. Total liabilities increased $2.0 billion due to increases in deposits, borrowings and long-term debt. Deposits increased $464 million primarily due to increased balances of brokered deposits and certificates of deposit related to our promotional products. The $1.5 billion increase in borrowings was used to fund the growth in our loans and investment securities. Long-term debt increased due to our $100 million subordinated notes offering completed in January 2022.

Loans Held for Investment ("LHFI")

(1)Includes $5.8 million, $6.5 million, $7.0 million, $7.3 million and $4.5 million of single family loans that are carried at fair value at September 30, 2022, June 30, 2022, March 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively.

As of September 30, 2022, our ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets remained low at 0.15%, while our ratio of total loans delinquent over 30 days, including nonaccrual loans, to total loans was 0.30%.

(1) FHA-insured and VA-guaranteed single family loans that are 90 days or more past due are maintained on accrual status if they are determined to have little to no risk of loss.

(2) Includes loans whose repayments are insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA or SBA of $11.6 million and $10.2 million at September 30, 2022 and June 30, 2022, respectively.

(1) The ACL rate is calculated excluding balances related to loans that are insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA or SBA

(1) May include loans originated as held for investment.

(1)Represents changes due to collection/realization of expected cash flows and curtailments.

(2)Principally reflects changes in model assumptions, including prepayment speed assumptions, which are primarily affected by changes in mortgage interest rates.

(1) Represents changes due to collection/realization of expected cash flows and curtailments.

(2) Principally reflects changes in model assumptions, including prepayment speed assumptions, which are primarily affected by changes in mortgage interest rates.