2020 Annual Report

largely attributable to growth in average interest earning assets, lower rates paid on deposits, and the recognition of PPP loan origination fees, offset partially by declining yields on loans and higher average balances of subordinated debentures. Net interest margin (on a fully tax-equivalent basis) for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 3.46%, compared to 3.59% for the year ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of 13 basis points. Despite a significant reduction in interest bearing deposit costs throughout the year, the historically low interest rate environment coupled with a more liquid balance sheet mix pressured earning asset yields lower and ultimately compressed net interest margin. Furthermore, the Company’s subordinated debenture issuance and the PPP loan origination volumes occurring during the year had a negative impact on net interest margin. Average interest earning assets for the year ended December 31, 2020 increased $474.7 million, or 22.7%, to $2.57 billion from $2.09 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase in average interest earning assets was due to continued organic growth in the loan portfolio as a result of increased loan production, including the funding of PPP loans. Average interest bearing liabilities increased $298.9 million, or 20.5%, to $1.76 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $1.46 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase in average interest bearing liabilities was primarily due to an increase in interest bearing deposits and the issuance of subordinated debentures in the second quarter of 2020, partially offset by a decrease in notes payable and overall higher levels of on-balance sheet liquidity. Average interest earning assets produced a tax-equivalent yield of 4.51% for year ended December 31, 2020, compared to 5.01% for the year ended December 31, 2019. The average rate paid on interest bearing liabilities was 1.53% for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to 2.03% for the year ended December 31, 2019. Interest Income. Total interest income on a tax-equivalent basis was $115.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $104.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The $11.1 million, or 10.6%, increase in total interest income on a tax-equivalent basis was primarily due to continued organic growth in the loan portfolio, as well as PPP loan interest and fee income. Interest income on cash investments decreased $585,000, or 77.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, despite a $33.8 million, or 72.8%, increase in average cash balances, due to the falling interest rate environment. The increase in average cash balances was due to extraordinary deposit inflows. Interest income on the investment securities portfolio on a fully-tax equivalent basis increased $838,000, or 9.7%, for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to a $71.5 million, or 28.5%, increase in average balances between the two periods, which was partially offset by a 51 basis point decrease in the aggregate portfolio yield, driven by the historically low interest rate environment. Interest income on loans on a fully-tax equivalent basis for the year ended December 31, 2020 was $105.6 million, compared to $94.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The $10.8 million, or 11.3%, increase was due to a $368.5 million, or 20.6%, increase in the average balance of loans outstanding, which was offset partially by a 41 basis point decrease in the average yield on loans, 9 basis points of which was attributed to the origination of PPP loans. The increase in the average balance of loans outstanding was due to organic loan growth and the funding of PPP loans. The decrease in yield on the loan portfolio was primarily due to the falling interest rate environment and the impact of PPP loans originated at a lower rate than the aggregate loan portfolio yield. The aggregate loan yield, excluding PPP loans, decreased to 4.99% for the year ended December 31, 2020, which was 32 basis points lower than 5.31% for the year ended December 31, 2019. While loan fees have maintained a stable contribution to the aggregate loan yield, the historically low yield curve has resulted in a declining core yield on loans in comparison to prior periods.

61