Pathward Financial, Inc. Announces Results for 2022 Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2022

- Fiscal 2022 Fourth Quarter Net Income of $23.4 million, or $0.81 Per Diluted Share -

- Fiscal 2022 Net Income of $156.4 million, or $5.26 Per Diluted Share -

Pathward Financial, Inc.™ (“Pathward Financial” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CASH) reported net income of $23.4 million, or $0.81 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to net income of $15.9 million, or $0.50 per share, for the three months ended September 30, 2021. The Company reported net income of $156.4 million, or $5.26 per share, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, compared to net income of $141.7 million, or $4.38 per share, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Company recognized return on average assets of 2.20% compared to 1.74% for the prior year period.

During the quarter, the Company recognized $6.9 million of pre-tax expenses related to rebranding efforts and $1.0 million of pre-tax separation related expenses. Excluding the impact of the rebranding and separation expenses, net of tax, the Company's adjusted net income for the quarter totaled $30.3 million, or $1.04 per share. For the fiscal year ended 2022, the Company recognized a gain on sale of Meta names and trademarks of $50.0 million, $13.1 million of pre-tax expenses related to rebranding efforts and $5.1 million of pre-tax separation related expenses. Excluding the impact of the gain on sale and rebranding and separation expenses, net of tax, the Company's adjusted net income for the 2022 fiscal year totaled $133.6 million, or $4.49 per share. See non-GAAP reconciliation table below.

“Fiscal 2022 was a landmark year for our organization as we renamed and unified our company under a single brand that reinforces our commitment to providing a path forward for individuals and businesses to reach the next stage of their financial journey," said CEO Brett Pharr.

"We are pleased with our results for the fiscal fourth quarter during which we delivered strong earnings per share growth. Our financial results continue to demonstrate that our optimization strategy will produce outsized returns of capital to shareholders."

"Looking ahead, we affirm our guidance for fiscal 2023: Our commercial finance loan portfolio is performing well and our credit quality metrics remain strong. We are starting to see the benefits of the rising rate environment in our loan yields, especially now that almost all of our variable rate loans are above their floors. Additionally, we believe our banking as a service business will continue to attract and maintain low-cost deposits while also generating steady fee income. Taken together, these factors position us well for fiscal 2023 and beyond," continued Pharr.

Business Highlights

• The Company announced today that Sonja Theisen, currently Executive Vice President of Governance, Risk and Compliance, has been appointed to succeed Glen Herrick as the Chief Financial Officer effective April 30, 2023. Ms. Theisen, who joined Pathward in 2013, has held leaderships roles across the organization including Chief Accounting Officer, Chief of Staff, and EVP of Governance, Risk and Compliance. Additional details can be found in the press release available at www.pathwardfinancial.com.
• On October 4, 2022, the Company announced the unveiling of its new corporate brand, marked by the transition to its new name, Pathward™, N.A. ("Pathward" or the "Bank"), and the launch of the Company's new website, Pathward.com. As part of the corporate rebrand, the Company recognized $6.9 million of pre-tax expenses related to rebranding efforts during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The Company continues to estimate total rebranding expenses will range between $15 million to $20 million.
• As part of its strategy to continue to optimize interest-earning assets, the Company sold the entirety of its student loan portfolio during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The sale generated an unfavorable pre-tax impact of approximately $0.5 million after netting the $4.3 million reversal of provision from the portfolio's allowance and the loss on sale of $4.8 million. The balance of the portfolio at time of sale was $81.5 million.
• On September 26, 2022, the Company announced the completion of a private placement of $20 million of its 6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2032 to certain qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors. The Notes are intended to qualify as Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes. The Company has used and intends to continue to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes and repurchases of the Company's common stock.
• The Company announced on October 10, 2022 that the American Bankers Association ("ABA") Foundation awarded it the 2022 Community Commitment Award during the ABA's Annual Convention on October 4. Pathward's Community Impact Program partners with organizations that provide resources for the unbanked and underbanked and aid to historically marginalized populations. The Community Impact Program delivers on Pathward's purpose of powering financial inclusion for all™ by lifting up the communities it serves.

Financial Highlights for the 2022 Fiscal Fourth Quarter

• Total revenue for the fourth quarter was $123.2 million, an increase of $3.0 million, or 3%, compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2021, primarily driven by an increase in interest income, partially offset by a decrease in noninterest income.
• Net interest margin ("NIM") increased to 5.21% for the fourth quarter from 4.35% during the same period of last year. The prior year period was impacted by excess cash associated with the Company's participation in the U.S. Treasury Department's Economic Impact Program.
• Total gross loans and leases at September 30, 2022 decreased $79 million, to $3.53 billion, or 2%, compared to September 30, 2021 and decreased $154 million, or 4%, when compared to June 30, 2022. The decrease compared to the prior year quarter was primarily due the sale of all remaining community banking loans during the fiscal 2022 first quarter, the sale of the student loan portfolio during the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, and a reduction in warehouse finance loans, partially offset by growth in the commercial finance portfolio. The primary driver for the decrease on a linked quarter basis was the sale of the student loan portfolio, a reduction in warehouse finance loans, and the seasonal decline in tax services loans.
• The Company resumed share repurchases on July 1, 2022, and during the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter repurchased 573,200 shares of common stock at an average share price of $37.05. An additional 396,100 shares of common stock at an average price of $35.16 were repurchased in October 2022 through October 13, 2022. As of October 13, 2022, there are 3,898,877 shares available for repurchase under the common stock share repurchase program announced during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021.
• The Company expects fiscal year 2023 GAAP earnings per share to be in the range of $5.25 to $5.75 and expects fiscal year 2023 adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $5.10 to $5.60. See non-GAAP reconciliation table below. 

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 was $79.8 million, an increase of 13% from the same quarter in fiscal 2021. The increase was mainly attributable to increased yields and an improved earning asset mix.

The fourth quarter average outstanding balance of loans and leases decreased $27.6 million compared to the same quarter of the prior year, primarily due to the sale of the remaining community bank and student loan portfolios, partially offset by increases in core loan and lease portfolios. The Company’s average interest-earning assets for the fourth quarter decreased by $364.8 million to $6.07 billion compared with the same quarter in fiscal 2021, primarily due to a reduction in cash balances as a result of high cash levels during the prior year period related to the Company's participation in government stimulus programs. The decrease in interest-earnings assets was partially offset by growth in total investments and core loans and leases.

Fiscal 2022 fourth quarter NIM increased to 5.21% from 4.35% in the fourth fiscal quarter of last year. The overall reported tax-equivalent yield (“TEY”) on average earning asset yields increased 81 basis points to 5.26% compared to the prior year quarter, primarily driven by an increase in loan and lease and investment securities yields, along with a decrease in lower-yielding cash balances. The yield on the loan and lease portfolio was 7.12% compared to 6.93% for the comparable period last year and the TEY on the securities portfolio was 2.56% compared to 1.50% over that same period.

The Company's cost of funds for all deposits and borrowings averaged 0.03% during the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, as compared to 0.09% during the prior year quarter. The Company's overall cost of deposits was 0.01% in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2022, the same as the prior year quarter.

Noninterest Income

Fiscal 2022 fourth quarter noninterest income decreased to $43.5 million, compared to $49.5 million for the same period of the prior year. The decrease was driven by a reduction in other income, a reduction in gain on sale of other, and a loss on sale of investments. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in payments fee income.

The reduction in gain on sale of other was primarily driven by the loss on the sale of the student loan portfolio during the quarter along with the Company recording fewer gains on loan sales as the SBA and USDA sale volumes have been impacted by supply chain constraints within the solar construction market. The decrease in other income was primarily related to a net unrealized gain of $4.1 million during the prior year period related to the MoneyLion investment. The $1.9 million loss on sale of investment was related to a sale of a venture capital investment. The increase in payment fee income was primarily from servicing fee income on off-balance sheet deposits, which increased $5.9 million during the 2022 fiscal fourth quarter compared to the same period of the prior year and increased $5.4 million compared to the fiscal 2022 third quarter.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense increased 10% to $103.0 million for the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, from $93.6 million for the same quarter last year. The increase in expense was primarily driven by an increase in card processing expense and compensation expense. During the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, the Company recognized $6.9 million in rebranding expenses and $1.0 million in separation related expenses.

The card processing expense increase was due to structured agreements with banking as a service ("BaaS") partners. The amount of expense paid under those agreements is based on an agreed upon rate index that varies depending on the deposit levels, floor rates, market conditions, and other performance conditions. Generally this rate index averages between 50% to 85% of the Effective Federal Funds Rate ("EFFR") and reprices immediately upon a change in the EFFR. Approximately 37% of the deposit portfolio was subject to these higher card processing expenses. For the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2022, card processing expenses related to these structured agreements were $7.4 million, as compared to $2.2 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022 and $0.2 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Income Tax Expense

The Company recorded an income tax benefit of $1.3 million, representing an effective tax rate of (5.7%), for the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, compared to income tax expense $1.1 million, representing an effective tax rate of 6.5%, for the fourth quarter last year. The current quarter decrease in income tax expense was primarily due to an increase in renewable energy investment tax credit lending volume compared to the prior year period.

The Company originated $35.9 million in solar leases during the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, resulting in $9.6 million in total net investment tax credits. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, the Company originated $29.1 million in solar leases resulting in $7.6 million in total net investment tax credits. Investment tax credits related to solar leases are recognized ratably based on income throughout each fiscal year. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, the Company originated $62.8 million in solar leases, compared to $101.1 million for the comparable prior year period. The timing and impact of future solar tax credits are expected to vary from period to period, and the Company intends to undertake only those tax credit opportunities that meet the Company's underwriting and return criteria.

Outlook

The following forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s expectations as of the date of this release, and are subject to substantial uncertainty. The Company's results may be materially affected by many factors, such as changes in economic conditions and customer demand, changes in interest rates, inflation, uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors detailed below under “Forward-looking Statements.” Because the Company’s reported GAAP results include certain income and expense items that are not expected to continue indefinitely and may include additional elements that the Company cannot currently predict, the Company is also providing guidance on a non-GAAP or “adjusted” basis.

The Company expects fiscal year 2023 GAAP earnings per share to be in the range of $5.25 to $5.75. When adjusting for gain on sale of trademarks, rebrand related expenses, and separation related expenses, the Company expects fiscal year 2023 adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $5.10 to $5.60. See non-GAAP reconciliation table below.

Investments, Loans and Leases

The Company's investment security balances at September 30, 2022 totaled $1.92 billion, as compared to $2.00 billion at June 30, 2022 and $1.92 billion at September 30, 2021.

Total gross loans and leases totaled $3.54 billion at September 30, 2022, as compared to $3.69 billion at June 30, 2022 and $3.61 billion at September 30, 2021. The primary driver for the decrease on a linked quarter basis was a decrease in consumer finance loans, a reduction in warehouse finance loans, and the seasonal decline in the tax services portfolio, partially offset by an increase in the commercial finance portfolio. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due the sale of all remaining community banking loans during the fiscal 2022 first quarter, the sale of the student loan portfolio during the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter, and a reduction in warehouse finance loans, partially offset by growth in our commercial finance portfolio.

Commercial finance loans, which comprised 86% of the Company's gross loan and lease portfolio, totaled $3.02 billion at September 30, 2022, reflecting growth of $75.8 million, or 3%, from June 30, 2022 and $298.2 million, or 11%, from September 30, 2021.

When excluding PPP loans, the community bank portfolio and the student loan portfolio, total loans and leases grew 9% at September 30, 2022 when compared to the same period of the prior year.

Asset Quality

The Company’s allowance for credit losses ("ACL") totaled $45.9 million at September 30, 2022, a decrease compared to $75.2 million at June 30, 2022 and a decrease from $68.3 million at September 30, 2021. The decrease in the ACL at September 30, 2022, when compared to June 30, 2022, was primarily due to a $22.6 million decrease in the seasonal tax services loan portfolio, and to a lesser extent, a $4.8 million decrease in the consumer finance portfolio and a $1.7 million decrease in the commercial finance portfolio. The decrease in the consumer finance portfolio was primarily attributable to the sale of the student loan portfolio.

The $22.3 million year-over-year decrease in the ACL was primarily driven by a $12.3 million decrease attributable to the disposition of the community banking portfolio, along with a $5.9 million decrease in the consumer finance portfolio and a $4.1 million decrease in the commercial finance portfolio.

The following table presents the Company's ACL as a percentage of its total loans and leases.

The Company's ACL as a percentage of total loans and leases decreased to 1.30% at September 30, 2022 from 2.04% at June 30, 2022. The decrease in the total loans and leases coverage ratio was primarily driven by the seasonal tax services loan portfolio, along with a decrease in the coverage ratio for both the commercial and consumer finance portfolios. The drop in the consumer finance portfolio coverage ratio was attributable to the sale of the student loan portfolio. The Company expects to continue to diligently monitor the ACL and adjust as necessary in future periods to maintain an appropriate and supportable level.

Activity in the allowance for credit losses for the periods presented was as follows.

The Company recognized a reversal of provision for credit losses of $2.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $8.8 million of provision for credit losses expense for the comparable period in the prior fiscal year. The reversal of provision for credit losses during the current quarter was primarily driven by the student loan sale and commercial finance recoveries. Net charge-offs were $26.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, compared to $31.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. Net charge-offs attributable to the tax services, commercial finance, and consumer finance portfolios for the quarter were $22.6 million, $3.4 million, and $0.6 million, respectively.

The Company's past due loans and leases were as follows for the periods presented.

The Company's nonperforming assets at September 30, 2022 were $30.9 million, representing 0.46% of total assets, compared to $26.8 million, or 0.40% of total assets at June 30, 2022 and $61.8 million, or 0.92% of total assets at September 30, 2021.

The Company's nonperforming loans and leases at September 30, 2022, were $29.2 million, representing 0.82% of total gross loans and leases, compared to $26.6 million, or 0.71% of total gross loans and leases at June 30, 2022 and $55.9 million, or 1.52% of total gross loans and leases at September 30, 2021.

The increase in the nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets at September 30, 2022 compared to June 30, 2022, was driven by an increase in nonperforming loans in the tax services portfolio, which is due to seasonal timing. This increase was partially offset by decreases within the commercial and consumer finance portfolios. When comparing the current period to the same period of the prior year, the decrease in nonperforming assets was due to a decrease in nonperforming assets in the community bank and commercial finance portfolios, partially offset by slight increases in nonperforming loans in the consumer and tax finance portfolios.

The Company has various portfolios of consumer lending and tax services loans that present unique risks that are statistically managed. Due to the unique risks associated with these portfolios, the Company monitors other credit quality indicators in their evaluation of the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses on these portfolios, and as such, these loans are not included in the asset classification table below. The Company's loans and leases held for investment by asset classification were as follows for the periods presented.

Deposits, Borrowings and Other Liabilities

Total average deposits for the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter decreased by $311.8 million to $5.77 billion compared to the same period in fiscal 2021. The decrease in average deposits was primarily due to decreases in interest-bearing deposits, wholesale deposits, savings deposits, and noninterest-bearing deposits, partially offset by an increase in money market deposits. The Company's deposit balances are seasonally lower during the fiscal fourth quarter. Additionally, prior period deposit balances were elevated due to the Company's participation in government stimulus programs.

The average balance of total deposits and interest-bearing liabilities was $5.80 billion for the three-month period ended September 30, 2022, compared to $6.17 billion for the same period in the prior fiscal year, representing a decrease of 6%.

Total end-of-period deposits increased 6% to $5.87 billion at September 30, 2022, compared to $5.51 billion at September 30, 2021. The increase in end-of-period deposits was primarily driven by an increase in noninterest-bearing deposits of $628.9 million, partially offset by a decrease in interest-bearing checking of $254.3 million and a decrease in wholesale deposits of $73.6 million.

As of September 30, 2022, the Company managed $1.31 billion of customer deposits at other banks in its capacity as custodian. These deposits provide the Company with excess deposits that can earn record keeping service fee income, typically reflective of the EFFR.

Approximately 37% of the deposit balances at September 30, 2022 are subject to variable card processing expenses that are derived from the terms of contractual agreements with certain BaaS partners. These agreements are tied to a portion of a rate index, typically the EFFR.

Regulatory Capital

The Company and the Bank remained above the federal regulatory minimum capital requirements at September 30, 2022, and continued to be classified as well-capitalized, and in good standing with the regulatory agencies. Regulatory capital ratios of the Company and the Bank are stated in the table below. Regulatory Capital is not affected by the unrealized loss on accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The securities portfolio is made up of nearly all amortizing securities that should provide consistent cash flow and is not expected to require sales to realize the losses to fund future loan growth.

The tables below include certain non-GAAP financial measures that are used by investors, analysts and bank regulatory agencies to assess the capital position of financial services companies. Management reviews these measures along with other measures of capital as part of its financial analysis.

The following table provides the non-GAAP financial measures used to compute certain of the ratios included in the table above, as well as a reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP:

The following table provides a reconciliation of tangible common equity and tangible common equity excluding AOCI, each of which is used in calculating tangible book value data, to Total Stockholders' Equity. Each of tangible common equity and tangible common equity excluding AOCI is a non-GAAP financial measure that is commonly used within the banking industry.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and earnings webcast at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 27, 2022. The live webcast of the call can be accessed from Pathward’s Investor Relations website at www.pathwardfinancial.com. Telephone participants may access the conference call by dialing 1-844-200-6205 (International: +1-929-526-1599) approximately 10 minutes prior to start time and reference access code 372192. A webcast replay will also be archived at www.pathwardfinancial.com for one year.

Upcoming Investor Events

• KBW Winter Financial Services Conference, Feb 16, 2023 | Boca Raton, FL

About Pathward Financial, Inc.™

Pathward Financial, Inc.™ (Nasdaq: CASH) is a U.S.-based financial holding company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion for all™. Through our subsidiary, Pathward™, N.A., we strive to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity across our Banking as a Service and Commercial Finance business lines. These strategic business lines provide end-to-end support to individuals and businesses. Learn more at www.pathwardfinancial.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company and Pathward may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements,” including statements contained in this press release, the Company’s filings with the SEC, the Company’s reports to stockholders, and in other communications by the Company and Pathward, which are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “hope,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “could,” “future,” or the negative of those terms, or other words of similar meaning or similar expressions. You should carefully read statements that contain these words because they discuss our future expectations or state other “forward-looking” information. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and assumptions about future events, and include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, expectations, estimates, and intentions, which are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance and business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Such statements address, among others, the following subjects: future operating results; the impact of measures expected to increase efficiencies or reduce expenses; the timing of and expenses related to our new brand rollout; customer retention; loan and other product demand; expectations concerning acquisitions and divestitures; new products and services; credit quality; the level of net charge-offs and the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses; technology; and the Company's employees. The following factors, among others, could cause the Company's financial performance and results of operations to differ materially from the expectations, estimates, and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements: maintaining our executive management team; expected growth opportunities may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the potential adverse effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and any governmental or societal responses thereto, or other unusual and infrequently occurring events, including the impact on financial markets from geopolitical conflicts such as the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine; our ability to achieve brand recognition for Pathward equal to or greater than we have enjoyed for MetaBank; our ability to successfully implement measures designed to reduce expenses and increase efficiencies; changes in trade, monetary, and fiscal policies and laws, including actual changes in interest rates and the Fed Funds rate; changes in tax laws; the strength of the United States' economy, and the local economies in which the Company operates; inflation, market, and monetary fluctuations; the timely and efficient development of new products and services offered by the Company or its strategic partners, as well as risks (including reputational and litigation) attendant thereto, and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users; Pathward's ability to maintain its Durbin Amendment exemption; the risks of dealing with or utilizing third parties, including, in connection with the Company’s prepaid card and tax refund advance businesses, the risk of reduced volume of refund advance loans as a result of reduced customer demand for or usage of Pathward’s strategic partners’ refund advance products; our relationship with, and any actions which may be initiated by, our regulators; changes in financial services laws and regulations, including laws and regulations relating to the tax refund industry and the insurance premium finance industry; technological changes, including, but not limited to, the protection of our electronic systems and information; the impact of acquisitions and divestitures; litigation risk; the growth of the Company’s business, as well as expenses related thereto; continued maintenance by Pathward of its status as a well-capitalized institution; changes in consumer spending and saving habits; losses from fraudulent or illegal activity; technological risks and developments and cyber threats, attacks, or events; and the success of the Company at maintaining its high quality asset level and managing and collecting assets of borrowers in default should problem assets increase.

The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Additional discussions of factors affecting the Company’s business and prospects are reflected under the caption “Risk Factors” and in other sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and in other filings made with the SEC. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances, or future events or for any other reason.