By First Merchants—
MUNCIE, Ind.—First Merchants Corporation (NASDAQ – FRME) has reported third quarter 2021 net income of $52.8 million compared to $36.2 million during the same period in 2020, an increase of 45.7 percent. Earnings per share for the period totaled $.98 per share compared to the third quarter of 2020 result of $.67 per share. Year-to-date net income totaled $157.8 millioncompared to $103.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, an increase of 52.5 percent. Year-to-date earnings per share totaled $2.92 compared to $1.91 during the same period in 2020.
Total assets equaled $15.1 billion as of September 30, 2021 and loans totaled $9.0 billion. The Corporation experienced organic loan growth of $503.9 million, or 6.0 percent during the last twelve months, offset by the forgiveness of PaycheckProtection Program (“PPP”) loans which accounted for a decline of $703.3 million. As a result, the loan portfolio decreased by $199.5 million, or 2.2 percent, during that period. Organic loan growth, on an annualized basis, was 5.8 percent in the third quarter 2021. Investments increased $1.5 billion, or 51.6 percent, during the last twelve months and now total $4.4 billion. Total deposits equaled $12.3 billion as of quarter-end and increased by $1.4 billion, or 13.2 percent, from thesame period in 2020.
The Corporation’s Allowance for Credit Losses – Loans totaled $200.0 million as of quarter-end, or 2.21 percent of total loans. Net recoveries for the quarter totaled $0.2 million and no provision expense was recorded. Provision expense taken during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 of $12.5 million and $54.2 million, respectively, reflected our view of increased credit risk related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-accrual loans totaled $51.5 million as of quarter-end.
Mark Hardwick, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are having a record year powered by strong balance sheet growth and high levels of profitability. We remain optimistic about the remainder of 2021 and our ability to deliver high levels ofperformance in 2022.”
Net-interest income for the quarter totaled $104.7 million, an increase of $11.8 million from the third quarter of 2020, or 12.7 percent. Net interest margin, on a tax equivalent basis, totaling 3.20 percent, increased by 5 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2020. Yields on earning assets for the third quarter totaled 3.46 percent and cost of supportingliabilities totaled 26 basis points. Fair value accretion contributed less to margin as it accounted for 4 basis points in the third quarter of 2021, compared to 10 basis points in the third quarter of 2020. PPP loans contributed 17 basis points tomargin during the third quarter of 2021 but subtracted 7 basis points from margin in the same quarter of 2020.
Non-interest income totaled $28.5 million for the quarter, a $2.3 million increase over the third quarter of 2020. Increases in service charges on deposit accounts, fiduciary and wealth management fees and earnings on cash surrender value oflife insurance were somewhat offset by a decline in gains on the sale of mortgage loans. Non-interest expense totaled
$71.4 million for the quarter compared to $64.7 million in the third quarter of 2020, an increase primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits.
The loan to deposit ratio now totals 73.3 percent and the loan to asset ratio totals 60.1 percent. As of September 30, 2021, the Corporation’s total risk-based capital ratio equaled 14.02 percent, the common equity tier 1 capital ratio equaled 11.75 percent, and the tangible common equity ratio totaled 8.94 percent. These ratios continue to reflect the Corporation’s strong liquidity and capital positions.
About First Merchants Corporation
First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation has one full-service bank charter, First Merchants Bank. The Bank also operates as First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors (as adivision of First Merchants Bank).
First Merchants Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company’s Internet web page (http://www.firstmerchants.com).
