DUNMORE, Pa., April 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: FDBC) and its banking subsidiary,�The Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank, announced its unaudited, consolidated financial results for the three-month period�ended March 31, 2023.

Unaudited Financial Information

Net income for the quarter ended March 31, 2023�was $7.0�million, or $1.24 diluted earnings per share, compared to $7.5 million, or $1.32 diluted earnings per share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2022. The $0.5 million, or 6%,�decline in net income�resulted primarily from�the $0.3 million decline in net interest income and $0.2 million higher non-interest expenses. Diluted earnings per share decreased by $0.08 per share, or 6%, due to the lower net income.�

�The first quarter results continue to be positive and reflect the strength and stability of Fidelity Bank. During the first quarter, despite the market disruption in March, the bank increased its capital position, grew loans, and maintained strong credit quality, while at the same time effectively managing expenses.� stated Daniel J. Santaniello, President and Chief Executive Officer. �Fidelity Bank�s strong balance sheet positions the company well to continue growing through a well-executed strategic plan that focuses on building relationships and delivering value to clients.�

Consolidated First Quarter Operating Results Overview

Net interest income was $17.0 million for the first quarter of 2023, a�2% decrease over the�$17.3�million earned for the first quarter of 2022. The $0.3�million decline in net interest income resulted primarily�from the increase of $4.4 million in interest expense primarily due to a 99 basis point increase in the rates paid on interest-bearing deposits which resulted in $3.8 million in additional interest expense. The Company also required $48.9 million in average short-term borrowings during the first quarter of 2023 which contributed $0.6 million in interest expense compared to�no short-term borrowings needed during the first quarter of 2022.�Partially offsetting the higher interest expense, interest income grew $4.2 million primarily due to a $17.6�million increase in�the average balance of interest-earning assets and a�72 basis point increase�in fully-taxable equivalent ("FTE") yields on these earning assets. The loan portfolio had the biggest impact, producing a $4.4 million increase in FTE interest income from $142.3 million in higher average balances and an increase of 74 basis points in FTE yields earned on loans. FTE interest income in the commercial portfolio increased�$2.5 million�during the first quarter of 2023 versus the first quarter of 2022, despite the�recognition of $0.7 million�less Small Business Administration ("SBA") fees�attributable to Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans over the comparative periods.

The overall cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 1.33% for the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 111 basis points from the 0.22% paid for the�first quarter of 2022. The cost of funds increased 82 basis points to 0.98% for the first quarter of 2023 from 0.16% for the first quarter of 2022. The Company�s FTE�(non-GAAP measurement)�net interest spread was 2.73% for the first quarter of 2023, down 39 basis points from the 3.12% recorded for the first quarter of 2022. FTE net interest margin decreased by five�basis points to 3.13% for the three months ended March 31, 2023 from 3.18% for the same 2022�period�due to the increase in�rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities�growing at a faster pace than the yields on interest-earning assets.

The provision for credit losses on loans�was $0.2 million and the provision for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments was $0.2 million for the first quarter of 2023. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standard Update 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (CECL). Upon adoption on January 1, 2023, the Company recorded an increase of $0.7 million in the allowance for credit losses on loans and an increase of $1.1 million in the allowance for credit losses on unfunded�loan commitments. Results for reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2023 are presented under ASC 326 while prior period amounts continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP.�For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the increase in the allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments was due to four large�unfunded commercial loan commitments originated during the quarter. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the increase in the allowance for credit losses on loans was due to growth in the loan portfolio.

Total non-interest income decreased $0.1�million, or 1%, to�$4.5 million for the first�quarter of 2023�compared to�$4.6�million for the first quarter of 2022. The decrease in non-interest income was primarily attributable to $0.5 million lower gains on the sale of mortgage loans and $0.1 million less service charges on loans. Partially offsetting these decreases was�$0.1 million higher service charges on deposits and $0.1 million death claim on bank-owned life insurance. The Company also had $0.2 million in losses on the write-down of premises and equipment during the first quarter of 2022 compared to no significant gains/losses on the sale, write-down or disposal of premises and equipment during the first quarter of 2023 which partially offset decreases in non-interest income.

Non-interest expenses increased�$0.2�million, or 2%, for the first quarter of 2023 to $12.9 million from $12.7 million for the same quarter of 2022. Professional services and premises and equipment expenses each increased by $0.2 million�quarter-over-quarter. Donation expense increased $0.1 million due to additional donations related to PA tax credit programs during the first quarter of 2023. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $0.2 million in PA shares tax expense�and $0.2 million�in salaries and employee benefit expenses.�

The provision for income taxes increased $0.1 million during the first quarter of 2023 due to higher�estimated taxable income compared to the first quarter of 2022.

Consolidated Balance Sheet & Asset Quality Overview

The Company�s total assets grew to $2.4�billion as of March 31, 2023,�an increase of $65 million from December 31, 2022. Growth in the loan portfolio of $61 million and $34 million of cash and cash equivalents�was offset by a reduction of the investment�portfolio by $29 million. The decline in the investment portfolio was primarily due to sales of $31 million in securities partially offset by a�$10 million improvement in market value of�available-for-sale securities. During the first quarter of 2023, the market value of held-to-maturity securities also improved�by $7 million, with $29 million in unrealized losses at March 31, 2023. During the same time period, total liabilities increased $52 million, or 2%. Growth of $76 million in short-term borrowings replaced deposit declines of $24 million with the remaining balance�used to fund loan growth with the excess increasing cash balances. Transactional deposit balances are down primarily from customers' investing part of their funds in higher yields. The reduction�was partially mitigated through the promotional CD offerings during the first quarter of 2023.�

Shareholders� equity increased $12.9 million, or 8%, to $175.9 million at March 31, 2023 from $163.0 million at December 31, 2022. The increase was caused by an $8.2 million, after tax, improvement in accumulated�other comprehensive income from lower net unrealized losses�recorded on available-for-sale investment securities. At March 31, 2023, there were no securities identified with credit-related, other-than-temporary impairment losses. Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is excluded from regulatory capital ratios. Retained earnings also improved from net income of $7.0 million, partially offset by $2.1 million in cash dividends paid to shareholders.�An additional $1.1 million was recorded from the issuance of common stock under the Company�s stock plans and�stock-based compensation expense. Partially offsetting these increases, a cumulative-effect adjustment was made for adoption of ASU 2016-13 during the first quarter of 2023 which reduced retained earnings by $1.3 million. The Company remains well capitalized with Tier 1 capital at 8.92% of total average assets as of�March 31, 2023. Total risk-based capital was 14.59% of risk-weighted assets and Tier 1 risk-based capital was 13.42% of risk-weighted assets as of March 31, 2023. Tangible book value per share was $27.33 at March 31, 2023 compared to $25.18 at December 31, 2022. Tangible common equity was 6.39% of total assets at March 31, 2023 compared to 6.01% at December 31, 2022.

Asset Quality

Total non-performing assets were $3.4�million, or 0.14% of total assets, at March 31, 2023, compared to $2.7�million, or 0.12% of total assets, at December 31, 2022. Based on the Company�s adoption of ASU 2022-02,�Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures, the recognition and measurement guidance related to troubled debt restructurings (TDR) has been eliminated. As such, TDRs�were removed from non-performing assets at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 above to adhere to this standard and provide better comparability.�Past due and non-accrual loans to total loans were 0.26% at March 31, 2023 compared to 0.28% at December 31, 2022. Net charge-offs to average total loans were 0.04% at March 31, 2023 unchanged compared to 0.04% at December 31, 2022.�

About Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc. and The Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank

Fidelity D & D Bancorp, Inc. has built a strong history as trusted financial advisor to the clients served by The Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank (�Fidelity Bank�). Fidelity Bank operates 20 full-service offices throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, along with a limited production commercial office in Luzerne County and a Fidelity Bank Wealth Management Minersville Office in Schuylkill County. Fidelity Bank provides a digital and virtual experience via digital services, and digital account opening offered through online banking at bankatfidelity.com and the mobile app. Additionally, Fidelity Bank offers full-service Wealth Management & Brokerage Services, a Mortgage Center, and an array of personal and business banking products and services. Part of the Company�s vision is to serve as the best bank for the community, which was�accomplished by having provided�over 4,100 hours of volunteer time and over $1.6 million in donations to non-profit organizations directly within the markets�served throughout 2022. The Company�continues�its mission of exceeding client expectations through a unique banking experience, providing 24 hour, 7 days a week service to clients through branch offices, online at www.bankatfidelity.com, and through the Customer Care Center at 800-388-4380. Fidelity Bank's deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to the full extent permitted by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures to provide information useful to the reader in understanding�its operating performance and trends, and to facilitate comparisons with the performance of other financial institutions. Management uses these measures internally to assess and better understand our underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities. The Company�s non-GAAP financial measures and key performance indicators may differ from the non-GAAP financial measures and key performance indicators other financial institutions use�to measure their performance and trends.�Non-GAAP financial measures should be supplemental to GAAP used to prepare the Company�s operating results and should not be read in isolation or relied upon as a substitute for GAAP measures. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP are presented in the tables below.

Interest income was adjusted to recognize the income from tax exempt interest-earning assets as if the interest was taxable, fully-taxable equivalent (FTE), in order to calculate certain ratios within this document. This treatment allows a uniform comparison among yields on interest-earning assets. Interest income was FTE adjusted, using the corporate federal tax rate of 21% for 2023 and 2022.

Forward-looking statements

Certain of the matters discussed in this press release�constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as such may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The words �expect,� �anticipate,� �intend,� �plan,� �believe,� �estimate,� and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

The Company�s actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect analyses only as of the date of this release. The Company has no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

For more information please visit our investor relations web site located through www.bankatfidelity.com.

^{* Non-GAAP Financial Measures - see reconciliations below
**Note that based on the Company�s adoption of ASU 2022-02,�Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326) Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures, the recognition and measurement guidance related to troubled debt restructurings (TDR) has been eliminated. As such, TDRs were removed from non-performing assets for the current reporting period to adhere to this standard. Prior periods included accruing TDRs in non-performing assets.}