First Quarter Highlights Highlights for the first quarter of 2024 include: Increases in net income and diluted earnings per share of 23.1% and 24.6%, respectively, over first quarter of 2023; An increase in tangible book value per share of $2.50 (15.7%) over the first quarter of 2023; Net growth in core deposits of $95.7 million (or 9.0% annualized) from December 31, 2023; Net growth in loans of $49.1 million (or 5.3% annualized) from December 31, 2023; and The payment of a 24 cent per share dividend on common stock on February 15, 2024. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 25, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ:IBCP) reported first quarter 2024 net income of $16.0 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, versus net income of $13.0 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. William B. ("Brad") Kessel, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Independent Bank Corporation, commented: "I am very pleased with our first quarter 2024 results, driving organic growth on both sides of the balance sheet with loans up 5.3% and core deposits up 9.0%. We were able to generate net interest margin expansion, increasing to 3.30% from 3.26% on a linked quarter basis and net interest income growth on both a linked quarter basis and on a year over year quarterly basis. Expenses continue to be well managed. Our credit metrics continue to be very good, with watch credits and non-performing assets near historic lows. These fundamentals drove good growth in both our earnings per share (23%) and tangible book value per share (16%) compared to the prior year quarter. Based on the past record of our core group of professionals and the on-going addition of talented bankers to our team, we are optimistic about continuing these positive growth trends for the balance of this year and into 2025." Significant items impacting comparable first quarter 2024 and 2023 results include the following: Changes in the fair value due to price of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights (the "MSR Changes") of  $1.3 million ($0.05 per diluted share, after taxes) for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $(0.6) million ($(0.02) per diluted share, after taxes) for the three-months ended March 31, 2023. The provision for credit losses was an expense of $0.7 million ($0.03 per diluted share, after taxes) in the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, as compared to an expense of $2.2 million ($0.08 per diluted share, after taxes) in the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. Operating Results The Company's net interest income totaled $40.2 million during the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $1.8 million, or 4.6% from the year-ago period, and an increase of $0.1 million, or 0.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2023. The Company's tax equivalent net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets (the "net interest margin") was 3.30% during the first quarter of 2024, compared to 3.32% in the year-ago period, and 3.26% in the fourth quarter of 2023. The year-over-year quarterly increase in net interest income was due to an increase in average interest-earning assets that was partially offset by a decrease in net interest margin. The increase in net interest income compared to the linked quarter was due to an increase in the net interest margin that was partially offset by a decrease in average interest earning assets. Average interest-earning assets were $4.91 billion in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $4.70 billion in the year ago quarter and $4.93 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. Non-interest income totaled $12.6 million for the first quarter of 2024, compared to $10.6 million in the comparable prior year period. These changes were primarily due to variances in mortgage banking related revenues. Net gains on mortgage loans in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, were approximately $1.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The comparative quarterly increase in net gains on mortgage loans was primarily due to an increase in the gain on sale margin on mortgage loans sold that was partially offset by a decrease in the volume of mortgage loans sold. Mortgage loan servicing, net, generated income of $2.7 million and $0.7 million in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The significant variance in mortgage loan servicing, net is primarily due to changes in the fair value of capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights associated with the magnitude of changes in mortgage loan interest rates and expected future prepayment levels between periods. Mortgage loan servicing, net activity is summarized in the following table:   Three months ended   3/31/2024   3/31/2023   (In thousands) Mortgage loan servicing, net:       Revenue, net $ 2,219     $ 2,222   Fair value change due to price   1,265       (635 ) Fair value change due to pay-downs   (759 )     (861 ) Total $ 2,725     $ 726                   Non-interest expenses totaled $32.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $31.0 million in the year-ago period. The Company recorded income tax expense of $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2024. This compares to an income tax expense of $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2023. The changes in income tax expense principally reflect changes in pre-tax earnings in 2024 relative to 2023. Asset Quality A breakdown of non-performing loans by loan type is as follows:   3/31/2024   12/31/2023   3/31/2023 Loan Type (Dollars in thousands) Commercial $ 25     $ 28     $ 36   Mortgage   4,620       6,425       5,536   Installment   710       970       644   Sub total   5,355       7,423       6,216   Less - government guaranteed loans   1,665       2,191       2,330   Total non-performing loans $ 3,690     $ 5,232     $ 3,886   Ratio of non-performing loans to total portfolio loans   0.10 %     0.14 %     0.11 % Ratio of non-performing assets to total assets   0.09 %     0.11 %     0.09 % Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total non-performing loans   1526.10 %     1044.69 %     1300.82 %                         The provision for credit losses was an expense of $0.7 million and $2.2 million in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. The quarterly change in the provision for credit losses in 2024 compared to 2023, is the result of a decrease in the provision on securities held to maturity that was partially offset by an increase in the provision on loans. We recorded loan net charge offs of $0.22 million and $1.05 million in the first quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. At March 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses for loans totaled $56.3 million, or 1.47% of total portfolio loans compared to $54.7 million, or 1.44% of total portfolio loans at December 31, 2023. Balance Sheet, Capital and Liquidity Total assets were $5.23 billion at March 31, 2024, a decrease of $32.5 million from December 31, 2023. Loans, excluding loans held for sale, were $3.84 billion at March 31, 2024, compared to $3.79 billion at December 31, 2023.  Deposits totaled $4.58 billion at March 31, 2024, a decrease of $40.5 million from December 31, 2023. This decrease is primarily due to decreases in non-interest bearing and brokered time deposits that were partially offset by growth in savings and interest-bearing checking, reciprocal, and time deposits. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $161.8 million at March 31, 2024, versus $169.8 million at December 31, 2023. Securities available for sale ("AFS") totaled $613.6 million at March 31, 2024, versus $679.4 million at December 31, 2023. Total shareholders' equity was $415.6 million at March 31, 2024, or 7.94% of total assets compared to $404.4 million or 7.68% at December 31, 2023. Tangible common equity totaled $385.4 million at March 31, 2024, or $18.44 per share compared to $374.1 million or $17.96 per share at December 31, 2023. The increase in shareholder equity as well as tangible common equity are primarily the result of earnings retention. The Company's wholly owned subsidiary, Independent Bank, remains significantly above "well capitalized" for regulatory purposes with the following ratios: Regulatory Capital Ratios 3/31/2024   12/31/2023   WellCapitalizedMinimum             Tier 1 capital to average total assets 9.05 %   8.80 %   5.00 % Tier 1 common equity  to risk-weighted assets 11.37 %   11.21 %   6.50 % Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 11.37 %   11.21 %   8.00 % Total capital to risk-weighted assets 12.62 %   12.46 %   10.00 %                   At March 31, 2024, in addition to liquidity available from our normal operating, funding, and investing activities, we had unused credit lines with the FHLB and FRB of approximately $1.072 billion and $496.0 million, respectively. We also had approximately $811.3 million in fair value of unpledged securities AFS and HTM at March 31, 2024 which could be pledged for an estimated additional borrowing capacity at the FHLB and FRB of approximately $754.9 million. Share Repurchase Plan On December 19, 2023, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the 2024 share repurchase plan. Under the terms of the 2024 share repurchase plan, the Company is authorized to purchase up to 1,100,000 shares, or approximately 5% of its then outstanding common stock. The repurchase plan is authorized to last through December 31, 2024. The Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock during the first three months of 2024. Earnings Conference Call Brad Kessel, President and CEO, Gavin Mohr, CFO and Joel Rahn, EVP – Commercial Banking will review the quarterly results in a conference call for investors and analysts beginning at 11:00 am ET on Thursday, April 25, 2024. To participate in the live conference call, please dial 1-833-470-1428 (Access Code # 206213). Also, the conference call will be accessible through an audio webcast with user-controlled slides via the following site/URL: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/312593309.  A playback of the call can be accessed by dialing 1-866-813-9403 (Access Code # 265107). The replay will be available through May 3, 2024. About Independent Bank Corporation Independent Bank Corporation (NASDAQ:IBCP) is a Michigan-based bank holding company with total assets of approximately $5.2 billion. Founded as First National Bank of Ionia in 1864, Independent Bank Corporation operates a branch network across Michigan's Lower Peninsula through one state-chartered bank subsidiary. This subsidiary (Independent Bank) provides a full range of financial services, including commercial banking, mortgage lending, consumer banking, investments and insurance. Independent Bank Corporation is committed to providing exceptional personal service and value to its customers, stockholders and the communities it serves. For more information, please visit our Web site at: IndependentBank.com. Forward-Looking StatementsThis presentation contains forward-looking statements, which are any statements or information that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements include statements about our anticipated future revenue and expenses and our future plans and prospects. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, and important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. For example, deterioration in general business and economic conditions or turbulence in domestic or global financial markets could adversely affect our revenues and the values of our assets and liabilities, reduce the availability of funding to us, lead to a tightening of credit, and increase stock price volatility. Our results could also be adversely affected by changes in interest rates; increases in unemployment rates; deterioration in the credit quality of our loan portfolios or in the value of the collateral securing those loans; deterioration in the value of our investment securities; legal and regulatory developments; changes in customer behavior and preferences; breaches in data security; and management's ability to effectively manage the multitude of risks facing our business. Key risk factors that could affect our future results are described in more detail in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and the other reports we file with the SEC, including under the heading "Risk Factors." Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of our future results. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Contact: William B. Kessel, President and CEO, 616.447.3933Gavin A. Mohr, Chief Financial Officer, 616.447.3929 INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIESConsolidated Statements of Financial Condition     March 31, 2024   December 31, 2023     (Unaudited)     (In thousands, except shareamounts) Assets         Cash and due from banks   $ 41,646     $ 68,208   Interest bearing deposits     120,198       101,573   Cash and Cash Equivalents     161,844       169,781   Securities available for sale     613,620       679,350   Securities held to maturity (fair value of $311,013 at March 31, 2024 and $318,606 at December 31, 2023)     349,957       353,988   Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock, at cost     16,821       16,821   Loans held for sale, carried at fair value     8,935       12,063   Loans         Commercial     1,735,284       1,679,731   Mortgage     1,490,441       1,485,872   Installment     614,240       625,298   Total Loans     3,839,965       3,790,901   Allowance for credit losses     (56,313 )     (54,658 ) Net Loans     3,783,652       3,736,243   Other real estate and repossessed assets, net     1,059       569   Property and equipment, net     34,587       35,523   Bank-owned life insurance     53,633       54,341   Capitalized mortgage loan servicing rights, carried at fair value     43,577       42,243   Other intangibles     1,875       2,004   Goodwill     28,300       28,300   Accrued income and other assets     133,395       132,500   Total Assets   $ 5,231,255     $ 5,263,726   Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity         Deposits         Non-interest bearing   $ 1,034,605     $ 1,076,093   Savings and interest-bearing checking     1,935,451       1,905,701   Reciprocal     893,643       832,020   Time     570,130       524,325   Brokered time     148,585       284,740   Total Deposits     4,582,414       4,622,879   Other borrowings     49,977       50,026   Subordinated debt     39,529       39,510   Subordinated debentures     39,745       39,728   Accrued expenses and other liabilities     104,020       107,134   Total Liabilities     4,815,685       4,859,277             Shareholders' Equity         Preferred stock, no par value, 200,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding     —       —   Common stock, no par value, 500,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 20,903,677 shares at March 31, 2024 and 20,835,633 shares at December 31, 2023     317,099       317,483   Retained earnings     170,100       159,108   Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (71,629 )     (72,142 ) Total Shareholders' Equity     415,570       404,449   Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity   $ 5,231,255     $ 5,263,726                     INDEPENDENT BANK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIESConsolidated Statements of Operations     Three Months Ended     March 31,2024   December 31, 2023   March 31,2023     (Unaudited) Interest Income   (In thousands, except per share amounts) Interest and fees on loans   $ 55,043     $ 54,333     $ 44,294   Interest on securities             Taxable     5,251       5,646       5,884   Tax-exempt     3,391       3,434       3,083   Other investments     1,441       1,948       675   Total Interest Income     65,126       65,361       53,936   Interest Expense             Deposits     22,810