•Financial Results:

◦Net income of $5.23 million, compared to $5.17 million

◦Diluted earnings per share of $0.34, compared to $0.34

◦Net interest income of $16.0 million, compared to $16.2 million

◦Net interest margin of 3.06%, compared to 3.12%

◦Provision for credit losses of $0.1 million, compared to $0.6 million

◦Total assets of $2.23 billion, compared to $2.15 billion

◦Gross loans of $1.80 billion, compared to $1.77 billion

◦Total deposits of $1.90 billion, compared to $1.81 billion

•Credit Quality:

◦Allowance for credit losses to gross loans of 1.23%, compared to 1.25%

◦Net charge-offs(1) to average gross loans(2) of 0.01%, compared to 0.04%

◦Past due 30-89 days to gross loans of 0.22%, compared to 0.54%

◦Nonperforming loans to gross loans of 0.24%, compared to 0.34%

◦Criticized loans(3) to gross loans of 0.64%, compared to 0.76%

•Capital Levels:

◦Remained well-capitalized with a Common Equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) ratio of 12.34%

◦Book value per common share increased to $13.00, compared to $12.84

◦Repurchased 49,697 shares of common stock at an average price of $10.02 per share

◦Paid quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share for the periods

___________________________________________________________

(1)    Annualized.

(2)    Includes loans held for sale.

(3)    Includes special mention, substandard, doubtful, and loss categories.

LOS ANGELES, April 25, 2024 — OP Bancorp (the “Company”) (NASDAQ: OPBK), the holding company of Open Bank (the “Bank”), today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2024. Net income for the first quarter of 2024 was $5.23 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share, compared with $5.17 million, or $0.34 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of 2023, and $7.5 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2023.

Min Kim, President and Chief Executive Officer:

“Despite the prolonged stress from the high interest rate environment, we were able to grow loans and deposits in the first quarter while controlling impacts to net interest margin at a manageable level. Our credit quality improved noticeably across all metrics even in the face of significant uncertainties that affect our borrowers. I’d like to thank our loyal customers and our dedicated employees for their continuing support of Open Bank, and we look forward to continuing to grow prudently while maintaining an optimum risk profile,” said Min Kim, President and Chief Executive.

(1)Includes loans held for sale.

(2)Includes special mention, substandard, doubtful, and loss categories.

(3)Annualized.

(4)Represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

(1)Annualized.

(1)Annualized.

(2)Prepayment penalty income of $115 thousand, $43 thousand and $3 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively, was from Commercial Real Estate (“CRE”) and Commercial and Industrial (“C&I”) loans.

Net interest income decreased $251 thousand, or 1.5%, primarily due to higher interest expense on deposits, partially offset by higher interest income on loans. Net interest margin was 3.06%, a decrease of 6 basis points from 3.12%.

◦A $1.5 million increase in interest expense on interest-bearing deposits was primarily due to a $78.4 million, or 6.3%, increase in average balance.

◦A $1.2 million increase in interest income on loans was primarily due to a $21.4 million, or 1.2%, increase in average balance and a $837 thousand increase in net interest recognized on nonaccrual loans.

Net interest income decreased $1.9 million, or 10.7%, primarily due to higher interest expense on deposits and borrowings, partially offset by higher interest income on loans as our deposit and borrowing costs repriced more quickly than our interest-earning assets. Net interest margin was 3.06%, a decrease of 51 basis points from 3.57%.

◦A $5.3 million increase in interest expense on interest-bearing deposits was primarily due to a $125.6 million, or 10.5%, increase in average balance and a 125 basis point increase in average cost driven by the Federal Reserve’s rate increases.

◦A $939 thousand increase in interest expense on borrowings was primarily due to a $82.5 million, or 315.3%, increase in average balance.

◦A $4.1 million increase in interest income on loans was primarily due to a $83.5 million, or 4.8%, increase in average balance and a 59 basis point increase in average yield as a result of the Federal Reserve’s rate increases.

The Company recorded a $145 thousand provision for credit losses, a decrease of $485 thousand, compared with a $630 thousand provision for credit losses.

Provision for credit losses on loans was $193 thousand, primarily due to a $1.8 million increase in the quantitative general reserve, mostly offset by a $1.7 million decrease in the qualitative reserve. The increase in the quantitative reserve was due to the increase in the average life of home mortgage loans because of the slower prepayment rate based on the 2-year look back period. The decrease in the qualitative reserve was due to noticeable improvements in various asset quality metrics and improving economic and business conditions.

The Company recorded a $145 thousand provision for credit losses, a decrease of $483 thousand, compared with a $338 thousand reversal of credit losses.

Noninterest income decreased $94 thousand, or 2.6%, primarily due to lower gain on sale of loans, partially offset by higher loan servicing fee.

◦Gain on sale of loans was $1.7 million, a decrease of $293 thousand from $2.0 million, primarily due to a lower Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loan sold amount partially offset by a higher average premium on sales. The Bank sold $24.8 million in SBA loans at an average premium rate of 8.33%, compared to the sale of $40.1 million at an average premium rate of 5.99%.

◦Loan servicing fees, net of amortization, was $772 thousand, an increase of $232 thousand from $540 thousand, primarily due to a decrease in servicing fee amortization driven by lower loan payoffs in loan servicing portfolio.

Noninterest income decreased $709 thousand, or 16.5%, primarily due to a lower gain on sale of loans, partially offset by higher service charges on deposits.

◦Gain on sale of loans was $1.7 million, a decrease of $867 thousand from $2.6 million, primarily due to a lower SBA loan sold amount. The Bank sold $24.8 million in SBA loans at an average premium rate of 8.33%, compared to the sale of $44.7 million at an average premium rate of 7.33%.

◦Service charges on deposits was $612 thousand, and an increase of $194 thousand from $418 thousand, primarily due to an increase in deposit analysis fees from an increase in the number of analysis accounts.

Noninterest expense increased $174 thousand, or 1.5%, primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits, and FDIC insurance and regulatory assessments, partially offset by lower data processing and communication and other expenses.

◦Salaries and employee benefits increased $195 thousand, primarily due to increases in employer payroll taxes and employee vacation accruals, partially offset by lower employee incentive accruals.

◦FDIC insurance and regulatory assessments increased $137 thousand, primarily due to a lower expense in the fourth quarter of 2023 as a result of an accrual adjustment.

◦Data processing and communication decreased $157 thousand, primarily due to an accrual adjustment for a credit received on data processing fees in the first quarter of 2024.

Noninterest expense increased $249 thousand, or 2.1%, primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits, partially offset by lower foundation donation and other contributions.

◦Salaries and employee benefits increased $589 thousand, primarily due to an increase from employee salary adjustments in 2023 and an increase in employee health insurance.

◦Foundation donations and other contributions decreased $213 thousand, primarily due to a lower donation accrual for Open Stewardship as a result of lower net income.

Income tax expense was $2.0 million and the effective tax rate was 28.1%, compared to income tax expense of $2.1 million and the effective rate of 29.1%. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to an increased tax benefits from an increase in low income housing tax credit investments.

Income tax expense was $2.0 million and the effective tax rate was 28.1%, compared to income tax expense of $3.1 million and an effective rate of 29.0%. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily due to an increased tax benefits from an increase in low income housing tax credit investments.

The following table presents new loan originations based on loan commitment amounts for the periods indicated:

The following table presents changes in gross loans by loan activity for the periods indicated:

Gross loans were $1.80 billion as of March 31, 2024, up $39.1 million, from December 31, 2023, primarily due to new loan originations, partially offset by loan sales, payoffs and paydowns.

New loan originations, loan sales, and loan payoffs and paydowns were $123.2 million $32.1 million and $53.1 million, respectively, for the first quarter of 2024, compared with $96.9 million, $40.1 million and $43.5 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Gross loans were $1.80 billion as of March 31, 2024, up $112.5 million, from March 31, 2023, primarily due to new loan originations of $428.9 million and loan purchases of $15.5 million, primarily offset by loan sales of $132.4 million and loan payoffs and paydowns of $198.2 million.

The following table presents the composition of gross loans by interest rate type accompanied with the weighted average contractual rates as of the periods indicated:

The following table presents the maturity of gross loans by interest rate type accompanied with the weighted average contractual rates for the periods indicated:

The Company adopted the Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”) accounting standard effective as of January 1, 2023 under a modified retrospective approach. The adoption resulted in a $1.9 million increase to the allowance for credit losses on loans, a $184 thousand increase to the allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet exposure, a $624 thousand increase to deferred tax assets, and a $1.5 million charge to retained earnings.

The following table presents allowance for credit losses and provision for credit losses as of and for the periods presented:

(1)Excludes the guaranteed portion of SBA loans that are in liquidation totaling $3.1 million, $2.0 million and $1.9 million as of March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

(2)Consists of special mention, substandard, doubtful and loss categories.

(3)Annualized.

(4)Includes loans held for sale.

Overall, the Bank continued to maintain low levels of nonperforming loans and net charge-offs. Our allowance remained strong with an allowance to gross loans ratio of 1.23%.

◦Loans 30-89 days past due and still accruing were $3.9 million or 0.22% of gross loans as of March 31, 2024, compared with $9.6 million or 0.54% as of December 31, 2023. Several past due home mortgage loans were paid off through voluntary sale and several home mortgage and SBA loans were brought current.

◦Nonperforming loans were $4.3 million or 0.24% of gross loans as of March 31, 2024, compared with $6.1 million or 0.34% as of December 31, 2023. Several escrows on the nonperforming home mortgage loans were closed during the quarter with full payoffs.

◦Nonperforming assets were $5.6 million or 0.25% of total assets as of March 31, 2024, compared with $6.1 million or 0.28% as of December 31, 2023. Other Real Estate Owned (“OREO”) was $1.2 million as of March 31, 2024, which is secured by a mix-use property in Los Angeles Koreatown with 90% guaranteed by SBA. We are in receipt of a few written offers above the OREO balance and negotiating the terms of the offer.

◦Criticized loans were $11.6 million or 0.64% of gross loans as of March 31, 2024, compared with $13.3 million or 0.76% as of December 31, 2023. The improvement was due to the payoffs of several nonperforming home mortgage loans.

◦Net charge-offs were $57 thousand or 0.01% of average loans in the first quarter of 2024, compared to net charge-offs of $161 thousand, or 0.04% of average loans in the fourth quarter of 2023 and of $93 thousand, or 0.02% of average loans in the first quarter of 2023. The charge-off in the first quarter of 2024 was the reversal of the accrued interest on three loans totaling $519 thousand that were placed on nonaccrual during the same quarter.

Total deposits were $1.90 billion as of March 31, 2024, up $87.9 million from December 31, 2023, primarily due to increases of $142.5 million in time deposits and $16.6 million in noninterest-bearing deposit, offset by a $71.3 million decrease in money market deposits. Noninterest-bearing deposits, as a percentage of total deposits, decreased to 28.5% from 28.9%. The composition shift to time deposits was primarily due to customers’ continued preference for high-rate deposit products driven by the Federal Reserve’s rate increases.

Total deposits were $1.90 billion as of March 31, 2024, down $9.4 million from March 31, 2023, primarily driven by decreases of $104.5 million in noninterest-bearing deposits and $109.1 million in money market deposits, offset by a $204.2 million increase in time deposits. The composition shift to time deposits was primarily due to customers’ preference for high-rate deposit products driven by market rate increases as a result of the Federal Reserve’s rate increases.

The following table sets forth the maturity of time deposits as of March 31, 2024:

The Company maintains ample access to liquidity, including highly liquid assets on our balance sheet and available unused borrowings from other financial institutions. The following table presents the Company's liquid assets and available borrowings as of dates presented:

On April 25, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per share of its common stock. The cash dividend is payable on or about May 23, 2024 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 9, 2024. The payment of the dividend is based primarily on dividends from the Bank to the Company, and future dividends will depend on the Board’s assessment of the availability of capital levels to support the ongoing operating capital needs of both the Company and the Bank.

The Company also repurchased 49,697 shares of its common stock at an average price of $10.02 per share during the first quarter of 2024 under the stock repurchase program announced in August 2023. Since the announcement of the initial stock repurchase program in January 2019, the Company repurchased a total of 2,069,697 shares of its common stock at an average repurchase price of $8.63 per share through March 31, 2024.

(1)The capital requirements are only applicable to the Bank, and the Company's ratios are included for comparison purpose.

(2)An additional 2.5% capital conservation buffer above the minimum capital ratios are required in order to avoid limitations on distributions, including dividend payments and certain discretionary bonuses to executive officers.

OP Bancorp, the holding company for Open Bank (the “Bank”), is a California corporation whose common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol, “OPBK.” The Bank is engaged in the general commercial banking business in Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Clara Counties in California, the Dallas metropolitan area in Texas, and Clark County in Nevada and is focused on serving the banking needs of small- and medium-sized businesses, professionals, and residents with a particular emphasis on Korean and other ethnic minority communities. The Bank currently operates eleven full-service branch offices in Downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles Fashion District, Los Angeles Koreatown, Cerritos, Gardena, Buena Park, and Santa Clara, California, Carrollton, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada. The Bank also has four loan production offices in Pleasanton, California, Atlanta, Georgia, Aurora, Colorado, and Lynnwood, Washington. The Bank commenced its operations on June 10, 2005 as First Standard Bank and changed its name to Open Bank in October 2010. Its headquarters is located at 1000 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500, Los Angeles, California 90017. Phone 213.892.9999; www.myopenbank.com.

Certain matters set forth herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including forward-looking statements relating to the Company’s current business plans and expectations regarding future operating results. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control, include, but are not limited to: the effects of substantial fluctuations in, and continuing elevated levels of, interest rates on our borrowers’ ability to perform in accordance with the terms of their loans and on our deposit customers’ expectation for higher rates on deposit products; cybersecurity risks, including the potential for the occurrence of successful cyberattacks and our ability to prevent and to mitigate the harms resulting from any such attacks; business and economic conditions, particularly those affecting the financial services industry and our primary market areas; risks of international conflict, terrorism, civil unrest and domestic instability; the continuing effects of inflation and monetary policies, particularly those relating to the decisions and indicators of intent expressed by the Federal Reserve Open Markets Committee, as those circumstances impact our operations and our current and prospective borrowers and depositors; our ability to balance deposit liabilities and liquidity sources (including our ability to reprice those instruments and balancing our borrowings and investments to keep pace with changing market conditions) so as to meet current and expected withdrawals while promoting strong earning capacity; our ability to manage our credit risk successfully and to assess, adjust and monitor the sufficiency of our allowance for credit losses; factors that can impact the performance of our loan portfolio, including real estate values and liquidity in our primary market areas, the financial health of our commercial borrowers, the success of construction projects that we finance, including any loans acquired in acquisition transactions; the impacts of credit quality on our earnings and the related effects of increases to the reserve on our net income; our ability effectively to execute our strategic plan and manage our growth; interest rate fluctuations, which could have an adverse effect on our profitability; external economic and/or market factors, such as changes in monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including inflation or deflation, changes in the demand for loans, and fluctuations in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits, which may have an adverse impact on our financial condition; continued or increasing competition from other banks and from credit unions and non-bank financial services companies, many of which are subject to less restrictive or less costly regulations than we are; challenges arising from unsuccessful attempts to expand into new geographic markets, products, or services; practical and regulatory constraints on the ability of Open Bank to pay dividends to us; increased capital requirements imposed by banking regulators, which may require us to raise capital at a time when capital is not available on favorable terms or at all; a failure in the internal controls we have implemented to address the risks inherent to the business of banking; including internal controls that affect the reliability of our publicly reported financial statements; inaccuracies in our assumptions about future events, which could result in material differences between our financial projections and actual financial performance, particularly with respect to the effects of predictions of future economic conditions as those circumstances affect our estimates for the adequacy of our allowance for credit losses and the related provision expense; changes in our management personnel or our inability to retain motivate and hire qualified management personnel; disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems; disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events affecting the third-party vendors who perform several of our critical processing functions; an inability to keep pace with the rate of technological advances due to a lack of resources to invest in new technologies; risks related to potential acquisitions; political developments, uncertainties or instability, catastrophic events, or natural disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, drought, pandemic diseases (such as the coronavirus) or extreme weather events, any of which may affect services we use or affect our customers, employees or third parties with which we conduct business; incremental costs and obligations associated with operating as a public company; the impact of any claims or legal actions to which we may be subject, including any effect on our reputation; compliance with governmental and regulatory requirements, including the Dodd-Frank Act and others relating to banking, consumer protection, securities and tax matters, and our ability to maintain licenses required in connection with commercial mortgage origination, sale and servicing operations; changes in federal tax law or policy; and our ability the manage the foregoing and other factors set forth in the Company’s public reports.

We describe these and other risks that could affect our results in Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” of our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in our other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

213.892.1192

Christine.oh@myopenbank.com

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)

(1)Annualized.

(1)Excludes the guaranteed portion of SBA loans that are in liquidation totaling $3.1 million, $2.0 million and $1.6 million as of March 31, 2024, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2023, respectively.

(2)Excludes the guaranteed portion of SBA loans that are in liquidation totaling $246 thousand as of March 31, 2023.

(3)Consists of substandard, doubtful and loss categories.

(4)See the Reconciliation of GAAP to NON-GAAP Financial Measures.

(5)Annualized.

(6)Includes loans held for sale.