American Savings Bank Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2020 Financial Results

HONOLULU, Jan. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Savings Bank, F.S.B. (American), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HE), today reported 2020 net income of $57.6 million,(1) compared to $89.0 million(2) in 2019.

"I am proud of the tenacity and creativity of our team as we worked to support our customers through this difficult economy, protect our teammates, and care for our community through all the challenges of 2020," said Rich Wacker, president and chief executive officer of American. "Our financial results reflect the negative impact of the elevated credit risk we continue to manage closely, but also the benefits of our record mortgage originations, good cost control to offset increased costs related to COVID while still investing in our core priorities, and conservative liquidity and capital management," said Wacker.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $15.7 million, compared to $12.2 million in the third, or linked, quarter of 2020 and $28.2 million(3) in the fourth quarter of 2019.




            
              (1)                       Results for 2020 included
                                                    impact of after-tax
                                                    gain of $5.2 million
                                                    related to the sale of
                                                    Visa Class B shares in
                                                    the second quarter of
                                                    2020, as well as $5.1
                                                    million of certain
                                                    direct and incremental
                                                    COVID-19 related costs.







            
              (2)                       Results for 2019 included
                                                    after-tax gain on sale
                                                    of properties (included
                                                    in noninterest income)
                                                    and after-tax campus
                                                    transition costs
                                                    (included in noninterest
                                                    expense) of $7.9 million
                                                    and $2.4 million,
                                                    respectively, and $7.9
                                                    million and $0.2 million
                                                    for the fourth quarter
                                                    of 2019, respectively.









            
              (3)   
            See footnote 2.

Financial Highlights

Net interest income was $233.5 million in 2020 compared to $248.1 million in 2019. Fourth quarter 2020 net interest income was $58.5 million compared to $57.3 million in the linked quarter, and $60.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. Net interest income increased over the linked quarter, primarily due to higher average earning assets and lower funding costs in the fourth quarter. Yield on earning assets continued to be negatively impacted by the lower interest rate environment. Net interest margin was 3.29% in 2020, compared to 3.85% in 2019. Net interest margin for the fourth quarter of 2020 was 3.12%, flat compared to the linked quarter and down from 3.74% in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The provision for credit losses was $50.8 million in 2020 compared to $23.5 million in 2019. The increase in provision for credit losses reflects additional credit risk within the loan portfolio associated with the negative impacts of COVID-19. Provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2020 was $11.3 million compared to $14.0 million in the linked quarter and $5.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The 2020 net charge-off ratio was 0.40% compared to 0.45% in 2019. The net charge-off ratio for the fourth quarter of 2020 was 0.36%, compared to 0.32% in the linked quarter and 0.41% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Nonaccrual loans as a percent of total loans receivable held for investment was 0.89% in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to 0.77% in the linked quarter and 0.58% in the prior year quarter.

Noninterest income for 2020 was $78.1 million(4) compared to $72.8 million in 2019.((5)) Noninterest income was $20.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to $19.0 million in the linked quarter and $26.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. The decrease in noninterest income from the prior year quarter was primarily due to gains on sales of former properties in the fourth quarter of 2019,((6)) partially offset by higher mortgage banking income in the fourth quarter of 2020.




              
                4               See footnote 1
                                             above.





              
                5               See footnote 2
                                             above.





              
                6               See footnote 2
                                             above.

Noninterest expense for 2020 was $191.6 million compared to $185.4 million in 2019. The increase in noninterest expense for the year was primarily due to $5.1 million of COVID-19 related expenses combined with higher pension-related costs of $2.3 million and $0.7 million in costs associated with the bank's branch consolidation strategy. These costs were partially offset by reductions in data processing and marketing expenses. Fourth quarter of 2020 noninterest expense was $49.4 million, compared to $47.3 million in the linked quarter and $46.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Total loans were $5.3 billion as of December 31, 2020, up 4.4% from December 31, 2019. The increase in total loans was primarily due to a $300 million increase in Paycheck Protection Program loans and a $210 million increase in commercial real estate loans. The increase in these portfolios was offset by reductions in the home equity line of credit and personal unsecured loan portfolios.

Total deposits were $7.4 billion as of December 31, 2020, an increase of 17.8% from December 31, 2019. The average cost of funds was 0.16% for the full year 2020, thirteen basis points lower than the prior year. For the fourth quarter of 2020, the average cost of funds was 0.09%, down four basis points versus the linked quarter and down seventeen basis points versus the prior year quarter.

Overall, American's return on average equity for the full year 2020 was 8.1% compared to 13.5% in 2019. Return on average assets for the full year was 0.74% in 2020 compared to 1.25% in 2019. For the fourth quarter of 2020 return on average equity was 8.6%, compared to 6.8% in the linked quarter and 16.5% in the fourth quarter of 2019. Return on average assets was 0.77% for the fourth quarter of 2020, compared to 0.61% in the linked quarter and 1.58% in the same quarter last year.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, American paid dividends of $3.0 million to HEI. American had a leverage ratio of 8.4% at December 31, 2020.

HEI EARNINGS RELEASE, HEI WEBCAST AND CONFERENCE CALL TO DISCUSS EARNINGS AND 2021 GUIDANCE

Concurrent with American's regulatory filing 30 days after the end of the quarter, American announced its fourth quarter and full year 2020 financial results today. Please note that these reported results relate only to American and are not necessarily indicative of HEI's consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2020.

HEI plans to announce its fourth quarter and full year 2020 consolidated financial results on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 and will also conduct a webcast and conference call at 11:15 a.m. Hawaii time (4:15 p.m. Eastern time) that same day to discuss its consolidated earnings, including American's earnings, and 2021 guidance.

Parties in the U.S. may listen to the conference call by dialing (844) 834-0652. International parties may listen to the conference call by dialing (412) 317-5198. Parties may also access presentation materials and/or listen to the conference call by visiting the conference call/webcast link on HEI's website at www.hei.com under the "Investor Relations" section, sub-heading "News and Events -- Events and Presentations."

HEI and Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. (Hawaiian Electric) intend to continue to use HEI's website, www.hei.com, as a means of disclosing additional information. Such disclosures will be included on HEI's website in the Investor Relations section. Accordingly, investors should routinely monitor the Investor Relations section of HEI's website at www.hei.com in addition to following HEI's, Hawaiian Electric's and American's press releases, HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and HEI's public conference calls and webcasts. The information on HEI's website is not incorporated by reference in this document or in HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings unless, and except to the extent, specifically incorporated by reference. Investors may also wish to refer to the Public Utilities Commission of the State of Hawaii (PUC) website at dms.puc.hawaii.gov/dms to review documents filed with and issued by the PUC. No information on the PUC website is incorporated by reference in this document or in HEI's and Hawaiian Electric's SEC filings.

A replay will be available online and via phone. The online replay will be available on HEI's website about two hours after the event. An audio replay will also be available about two hours after the event through March 2, 2021. To access the audio replay, dial (877) 344-7529 (U.S.) or (412) 317-0088 (international) and enter passcode 10151332.

HEI supplies power to approximately 95% of Hawaii's population through its electric utility, Hawaiian Electric; provides a wide array of banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses through American, one of Hawaii's largest financial institutions; and helps advance Hawaii's clean energy and sustainability goals through investments by its non-regulated subsidiary, Pacific Current.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release may contain "forward-looking statements," which include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and usually include words such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "predicts," "estimates" or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance, ongoing business strategies or prospects or possible future actions are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and the accuracy of assumptions concerning HEI and its subsidiaries, the performance of the industries in which they do business and economic, political and market factors, among other things. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.

Forward-looking statements in this release should be read in conjunction with the "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" discussions (which are incorporated by reference herein) set forth in HEI's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and HEI's other periodic reports that discuss important factors that could cause HEI's results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the report, presentation or filing in which they are made. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, HEI, Hawaiian Electric, American and their subsidiaries undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


              American Savings Bank, F.S.B.
    STATEMENTS OF INCOME DATA
    (Unaudited)




                                                                                                            
     Three months ended                                              
     Years ended December 31




              (in thousands)                                                 December 31,                     September 30,            December 31,
                                                                                   2020                              2020                      2019                      2020          2019

    ---

                            Interest and dividend income


               Interest and fees on loans                                                      $
        52,629                                               $
     52,419                                      $
        57,892               $
       214,134      $
       233,632


               Interest and dividends on
                investment securities                                                7,590                                        7,221                                7,160                                    30,529    32,922

    ---

               Total interest and dividend income                                   60,219                                       59,640                               65,052                                   244,663   266,554

    ---

                            Interest expense


               Interest on deposit liabilities                                       1,709                                        2,287                                3,907                                    10,654    16,830


               Interest on other borrowings                                             11                                           61                                  249                                       460     1,610

    ---


              Total interest expense                                                1,720                                        2,348                                4,156                                    11,114    18,440

    ---

                            Net interest income                                     58,499                                       57,292                               60,896                                   233,549   248,114


               Provision for credit losses                                          11,307                                       13,970                                5,607                                    50,811    23,480

    ---

                            Net interest income after provision
                             for credit losses                                      47,192                                       43,322                               55,289                                   182,738   224,634

    ---

                            Noninterest income


               Fees from other financial services                                    4,541                                        4,233                                4,830                                    16,447    19,275


               Fee income on deposit liabilities                                     4,217                                        3,832                                5,475                                    16,059    20,877


               Fee income on other financial
                products                                                             1,773                                        1,524                                1,378                                     6,381     6,507


               Bank-owned life insurance                                             2,051                                        1,965                                1,378                                     6,483     7,687



              Mortgage banking income                                               7,801                                        7,681                                1,863                                    23,734     4,943


               Gain on sale of real estate                                                                                                                          10,762                                             10,762


               Gain on sale of securities, net                                                                                                                                                                9,275       653



              Other income, net                                                     (187)                                       (231)                                 654                                     (256)    2,074

    ---


              Total noninterest income                                             20,196                                       19,004                               26,340                                    78,123    72,778

    ---

                            Noninterest expense


               Compensation and employee benefits                                   27,156                                       26,431                               26,383                                   104,443   103,009



              Occupancy                                                             5,171                                        5,693                                5,429                                    21,573    21,272



              Data processing                                                       3,717                                        3,366                                3,953                                    14,769    15,306



              Services                                                              3,214                                        2,624                                2,378                                    11,121    10,239



              Equipment                                                             2,371                                        2,001                                2,344                                     9,001     8,760


               Office supplies, printing and
                postage                                                              1,046                                        1,187                                1,192                                     4,623     5,512



              Marketing                                                             1,527                                          727                                1,035                                     3,435     4,490



              FDIC insurance                                                          775                                          714                                 (45)                                    2,342     1,204



              Other expense(1)                                                      4,470                                        4,556                                3,537                                    20,283    15,586

    ---

               Total noninterest expense                                            49,447                                       47,299                               46,206                                   191,590   185,378

    ---

                            Income before income taxes                              17,941                                       15,027                               35,423                                    69,271   112,034



              Income taxes                                                          2,283                                        2,877                                7,193                                    11,688    23,061

    ---


              
                Net income                                                     $
     
          15,658                                           $
     
       12,150                         $
              
          28,230            $
     
         57,583  $
      
         88,973

    ===

                            Comprehensive income                                           $
     
          18,306                                           $
     
       13,543                         $
              
          33,300            $
     
         81,191 $
      
         118,379

    ===


              OTHER BANK INFORMATION (annualized %, except as of period end)



              Return on average assets                                               0.77                                         0.61                                 1.58                                      0.74      1.25



              Return on average equity                                               8.58                                         6.75                                16.45                                      8.11     13.48


               Return on average tangible common
                equity                                                                9.67                                         7.62                                18.69                                      9.17     15.39



              Net interest margin                                                    3.12                                         3.12                                 3.74                                      3.29      3.85



              Efficiency ratio                                                      62.83                                        61.99                                52.97                                     61.47     57.77


               Net charge-offs to average loans
                outstanding                                                           0.36                                         0.32                                 0.41                                      0.40      0.45



              As of period end


               Nonaccrual loans to loans
                receivable held for investment                                        0.89                                         0.77                                 0.58


               Allowance for credit losses to
                loans outstanding                                                     1.90                                         1.67                                 1.04


               Tangible common equity to tangible
                assets                                                                 7.9                                          8.0                                  8.6



              Tier-1 leverage ratio                                                   8.4                                          8.3                                  9.1


               Dividend paid to HEI (via ASB
                Hawaii, Inc.) ($ in millions)                                                     $
        3.0                              
              $                                                      $
        9.0                  $
       31.0         $
       56.0




              
                1               The fourth quarter of 2020, third
                                             quarter of 2020 and year ended
                                             December 31, 2020 include
                                             approximately $0.6 million, $0.7
                                             million and $5.1 million,
                                             respectively, of certain direct
                                             and incremental COVID-19 related
                                             costs. For 2020, these costs,
                                             which have been recorded in Other
                                             expense, include $2.5 million of
                                             compensation expense and $2.0
                                             million of enhanced cleaning and
                                             sanitation costs.






               This information should be read in conjunction
                with the consolidated financial statements and
                the notes thereto in HEI filings with the SEC.


              American Savings Bank, F.S.B.
    BALANCE SHEETS DATA
    (Unaudited)





              (in thousands)                                                   December 31, 2020                 December 31, 2019

    ---


              
                Assets



              Cash and due from banks                                               $
              178,422                                     $
          129,770



              Interest-bearing deposits                                 114,304                                       48,628

    ---


              Cash and cash equivalents                                 292,726                                      178,398

    ---


              Investment securities



              Available-for-sale, at fair value                       1,970,417                                    1,232,826



              Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost                       226,947                                      139,451


               Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank, at cost                    8,680                                        8,434



              Loans held for investment                               5,333,843                                    5,121,176



              Allowance for credit losses                             (101,201)                                    (53,355)

    ---


              Net loans                                               5,232,642                                    5,067,821

    ---

               Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair
                value                                                     28,275                                       12,286



              Other                                                     554,656                                      511,611



              Goodwill                                                   82,190                                       82,190

    ---


              
                Total assets                                           $
              8,396,533                                   $
          7,233,017

    ===

                            Liabilities and shareholder's equity


               Deposit liabilities-noninterest-bearing                             $
              2,598,500                                   $
          1,909,682



              Deposit liabilities-interest-bearing                    4,788,457                                    4,362,220



              Other borrowings                                           89,670                                      115,110



              Other                                                     183,731                                      146,954

    ---


              
                Total liabilities                          7,660,358                                    6,533,966

    ---


              Common stock                                                    1                                            1



              Additional paid-in capital                                351,758                                      349,453



              Retained earnings                                         369,470                                      358,259


               Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),
                net of taxes


                    Net unrealized gains on
                     securities                                    $
           19,986                                                $
     2,481


                    Retirement benefit plans             (5,040)                                    14,946             (11,143)                        (8,662)

    ---

                            Total shareholder's equity                   736,175                                      699,051

    ---

                            Total liabilities and shareholder's equity                      $
              8,396,533                               $
              7,233,017

    ===


               This information should be read
                in conjunction with the
                consolidated financial
                statements and the notes
                thereto in HEI filings with the
                SEC.


     Contact: 
     Julie R. Smolinski       Telephone: (808) 543-7300


                 Vice President, Investor
                  Relations & Corporate
                  Sustainability          E-mail:  ir@hei.com


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SOURCE American Savings Bank; Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.