Net Income of $1.49 Million in the March 2024 Quarter Net Interest Margin of 2.74% in the March 2024 Quarter Loans Held for Investment of $1.07 Billion at March 31, 2024, Down 1% from June 30, 2023 Total Deposits of $908.1 Million at March 31, 2024, Down 5% from June 30, 2023 Non-Performing Assets to Total Assets Ratio of 0.17% at March 31, 2024 Non-Interest Expenses Remain Well Controlled RIVERSIDE, Calif., April 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. ("Company"), NASDAQ GS: PROV, the holding company for Provident Savings Bank, F.S.B. ("Bank"), today announced earnings for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The Company reported net income of $1.49 million, or $0.22 per diluted share (on 6.94 million average diluted shares outstanding) for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, down 36 percent from net income of $2.32 million, or $0.33 per diluted share (on 7.15 million average diluted shares outstanding), in the comparable period a year ago. The decrease in earnings was due primarily to an $842,000 decrease in net interest income, a $244,000 increase in non-interest expenses and a $133,000 decrease in non-interest income. "In light of ongoing economic uncertainty and the persistence of elevated interest rates and the inverted yield curve in the U.S., we remain committed to exercising patience as we await a more favorable operating environment. This will enable us to gradually transition back to less restrictive operating strategies and resume growing our loan portfolio at a reasonable pace," stated Donavon P. Ternes, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "During this interim period, our focus will be on prudently managing operating expenses, maintaining sound credit risk, interest risk and balance sheet management practices, while also executing our common stock repurchase program in line with the Company's business plan," concluded Ternes. On a sequential quarter basis, the $1.49 million net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 reflects a 30 percent decrease from $2.14 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. The decrease was primarily attributable to an $844,000 increase in the provision for credit losses, with a provision of $124,000 during the current quarter, in contrast to a $720,000 recovery in the prior sequential quarter, and a $215,000 decrease in net interest income, partly offset by a $176,000 decrease in non-interest expense. Diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 were $0.22 per share, down 29 percent from $0.31 per share in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. Return on average assets was 0.47 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 0.66 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 and 0.72 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. Return on average stockholders' equity for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 4.57 percent, compared to 6.56 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 and 7.12 percent for the third quarter of fiscal 2023. For the nine months ended March 31, 2024, net income decreased $1.38 million, or 20 percent, to $5.40 million from $6.78 million in the comparable period in 2023. Diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 decreased 18 percent to $0.77 per share (on 6.98 million average diluted shares outstanding) from $0.94 per share (on 7.23 million average diluted shares outstanding) for the comparable nine-month period last year. The decrease in earnings was primarily attributable to a $1.28 million decrease in net-interest income, a $466,000 decrease in non-interest income and a $705,000 increase in non-interest expense, partly offset by a $481,000 decrease in the provision for credit losses, with a $51,000 recovery of credit losses for the current nine months period, compared to a $430,000 provision for credit losses for the comparable nine-month period last year. In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, net interest income decreased $842,000, or nine percent, to $8.56 million from $9.40 million for the same quarter last year. The decrease was primarily due to increases in funding costs out pacing increases in yields on interest-earning assets and, to a lesser extent, a lower average balance of interest-earning assets. The average yield on interest-earning assets increased 58 basis points to 4.41 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from 3.83 percent in the same quarter last year, while the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased by 93 basis points to 1.86 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from 0.93 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of interest-earning assets decreased less than one percent to $1.25 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 as compared to the same quarter last year, primarily due to a decrease in the average balance of investment securities, partly offset by increases in the average balance of loans receivable and interest-earning deposits. The net interest margin during the third quarter of fiscal 2024 decreased 26 basis points to 2.74 percent from 3.00 percent in the same quarter last year. Interest income on loans receivable increased $1.65 million, or 15 percent, to $12.68 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $11.03 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was due to a higher average loan yield and, to a lesser extent, a higher average loan balance. The average yield on loans receivable increased 56 basis points to 4.74 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from 4.18 percent in the same quarter last year. Adjustable-rate loans of approximately $112.9 million repriced upward in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 by approximately 97 basis points from a weighted average rate of 6.72 percent to 7.69 percent. The average balance of loans receivable increased $16.6 million, or two percent, to $1.07 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 as compared to the same quarter last year. Total loans originated for investment in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 were $18.2 million, down 66 percent from $53.9 million in the same quarter last year; while loan principal payments received in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 were $28.5 million, up 63 percent from $17.5 million in the same quarter last year. Interest income from investment securities decreased $31,000, or six percent, to $517,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $548,000 for the same quarter of fiscal 2023. This decrease was attributable to a lower average balance, partly offset by a higher average yield. The average balance of investment securities decreased $26.3 million, or 16 percent, to $141.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $167.7 million in the same quarter last year. The decrease in the average balance was due to scheduled principal payments and prepayments of the investment securities. The average yield on investment securities increased 15 basis points to 1.46 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from 1.31 percent for the same quarter last year. The increase in the average yield was primarily attributable to a lower premium amortization during the current quarter in comparison to the same quarter last year ($124,000 vs. $181,000) due to lower total principal repayments ($5.7 million vs. $6.9 million) and, to a lesser extent, the upward repricing of adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities. In the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Federal Home Loan Bank – San Francisco ("FHLB") distributed $210,000 in cash dividends to the Bank on its FHLB stock, up 44 percent from $146,000 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an average yield on FHLB stock of 8.84 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to 7.09 percent in the same quarter last year. The average balance of FHLB – San Francisco stock in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $9.5 million, up from $8.2 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2023. Interest income from interest-earning deposits, primarily cash deposited at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, was $397,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, up $111,000 or 39 percent from $286,000 in the same quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase was due to a higher average yield and a higher average balance. The average yield earned on interest-earning deposits in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 5.40 percent, up 75 basis points from 4.65 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in the average yield was due to a higher average interest rate on the Federal Reserve Bank's reserve balances resulting from increases in the targeted federal funds rate in the first half of calendar 2023. The average balance of the Company's interest-earning deposits increased $4.5 million, or 18 percent, to $29.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $24.6 million in the same quarter last year. Interest expense on deposits for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was $2.68 million, an increase of $1.8 million or 204 percent from $879,000 for the same period last year. The increase in interest expense on deposits was attributable to higher rates paid on deposits, partly offset by a lower average balance. The average cost of deposits was 1.18 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024, up 81 basis points from 0.37 percent in the same quarter last year. The increase in the average cost of deposits was primarily attributable to an increase in higher costing time deposits, particularly brokered certificates of deposit. The average balance of deposits decreased $51.2 million, or five percent, to $910.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $962.0 million in the same quarter last year. Transaction account balances or "core deposits" decreased $87.4 million, or 12 percent, to $642.2 million at March 31, 2024 from $729.6 million at June 30, 2023, while time deposits increased $45.0 million, or 20 percent, to $265.9 million at March 31, 2024 from $220.9 million at June 30, 2023. The increase in time deposits was primarily due to both increases in retail time deposits and brokered certificates of deposit. As of March 31, 2024, brokered certificates of deposit totaled $130.9 million with a weighted average cost of 5.19 percent (including broker fees), up 23 percent from $106.4 million with a weighted average cost of 4.78 percent at June 30, 2023. Interest expense on borrowings, consisting of FHLB – San Francisco advances, for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $845,000, or 49 percent, to $2.57 million from $1.73 million for the same period last year. The increase in interest expense on borrowings was primarily the result of a higher average balance and, to a lesser extent, a higher average cost. The average balance of borrowings increased $47.1 million, or 27 percent, to $223.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $176.5 million in the same quarter last year and the average cost of borrowings increased by 66 basis points to 4.63 percent in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from 3.97 percent in the same quarter last year. At March 31, 2024, the Bank had approximately $269.2 million of remaining borrowing capacity at the FHLB – San Francisco. Additionally, the Bank has an unused secured borrowing facility of approximately $172.7 million with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and an unused unsecured federal funds borrowing facility of $50.0 million with its correspondent bank. The total available borrowing capacity across all sources totaled approximately $491.9 million at March 31, 2024. The Bank continues to work with both the FHLB - San Francisco and Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco to ensure that borrowing capacity is continuously reviewed and updated in order to be accessed seamlessly should the need arise. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $124,000 (which includes a $16,000 provision for unfunded commitment reserves), as compared to a $169,000 provision for credit losses recorded during the same period last year and a $720,000 recovery of credit losses recorded in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 (sequential quarter). The provision for credit losses recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was primarily attributable to a longer estimated life of the single-family loan portfolio resulting from higher market interest rates and lower loan prepayment estimates, while the outstanding balance of loans held for investment at March 31, 2024 declined slightly from December 31, 2023. Non-performing assets, comprised solely of non-accrual loans with underlying collateral located in California, increased $946,000 or 73 percent to $2.3 million, or 0.17 percent of total assets, at March 31, 2024, compared to $1.3 million, or 0.10 percent of total assets, at June 30, 2023. The non-performing loans at March 31, 2024 were comprised of nine single-family loans, while the non-performing loans at June 30, 2023 were comprise of six single-family loans. At both March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2023, there was no real estate owned and no accruing loans past due 90 days or more. There were no net loan charge-offs for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $2,000 of net loan recoveries for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Classified assets were $5.2 million at March 31, 2024 consisting of $1.9 million of loans in the special mention category and $3.3 million of loans in the substandard category. Classified assets at June 30, 2023 were $2.3 million, consisting of $509,000 of loans in the special mention category and $1.8 million of loans in the substandard category. The allowance for credit losses on gross loans held for investment was $7.1 million, or 0.67 percent of gross loans held for investment, at March 31, 2024, up from the $5.9 million, or 0.55 percent of gross loans held for investment, at June 30, 2023. The increase in the allowance for credit losses was due primarily to the adoption of the Current Expected Credit Losses ("CECL") methodology on July 1, 2023, which resulted in a $1.2 million increase in our allowance for credit losses, partly offset by a $51,000 recovery of credit losses in the first nine months of fiscal 2024 (which included a $16,000 recovery for unfunded commitment reserves). Results for reporting periods beginning after July 1, 2023 are presented under CECL while prior period results continue to be reported in accordance with previously applicable accounting standards. Management believes that, based on currently available information, the allowance for credit losses is sufficient to absorb expected losses inherent in loans held for investment at March 31, 2024. Non-interest income decreased by $133,000, or 14 percent, to $848,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $981,000 in the same period last year, due primarily to decreases in deposit account fees, card and processing fees and other non-interest income. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest income decreased $27,000, or three percent, primarily due to lower loan servicing and other fees resulting from fewer loan payoffs. Non-interest expense increased $244,000, or four percent, to $7.17 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $6.92 million for the same quarter last year, primarily due to higher salaries and employee benefits, equipment and professional expenses, partly offset by lower sales and marketing and other expenses. On a sequential quarter basis, non-interest expense decreased $176,000, or two percent, to $7.17 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 from $7.34 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2024. The Company's efficiency ratio, defined as non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income, in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 76.20 percent, up from 66.69 percent in the same quarter last year and 76.11 percent in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 (sequential quarter). The deterioration in the efficient ratio during the current quarter in comparison to the comparable quarter last year was due to higher non-interest expense, coupled with a decline in revenues. The Company's provision for income taxes was $620,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2024, down 36 percent from $966,000 in the same quarter last year and down 30 percent from $884,000 for second quarter of fiscal 2024 (sequential quarter). The decrease during the current quarter compared to the same quarter last year and sequential quarter was due to a decrease in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 was 29.3 percent as compared to 29.4 percent in the same quarter last year and 29.2 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 2024. The Company repurchased 50,051 shares of its common stock pursuant to its current stock repurchase program at an average cost of $13.99 per share during the quarter ended March 31, 2024. As of March 31, 2024, a total of 237,592 shares remained available for future purchase under the Company's current repurchase program, which expires on September 28, 2024. The Bank currently operates 13 retail/business banking offices in Riverside County and San Bernardino County (Inland Empire). The Company will host a conference call for institutional investors and bank analysts on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific) to discuss its financial results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-888-412-4131 and referencing Conference ID number 3610756. An audio replay of the conference call will be available through Tuesday, May 7, 2024 by dialing 1-800-770-2030 and referencing Conference ID number 3610756. For more financial information about the Company please visit the website at www.myprovident.com and click on the "Investor Relations" section. Safe-Harbor Statement This press release contains statements that the Company believes are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the Company's financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. You should not place undue reliance on these statements as they are subject to various risks and uncertainties. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind these risks and uncertainties, as well as any cautionary statements the Company may make. Moreover, you should treat these statements as speaking only as of the date they are made and based only on information then actually known to the Company. There are a number of important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from historical performance and these forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or implied by our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: potential adverse impacts to economic conditions in our local market areas, other markets where the Company has lending relationships, or other aspects of the Company's business operations or financial markets, including, without limitation, as a result of employment levels, labor shortages and the effects of inflation, a potential recession or slowed economic growth; changes in the interest rate environment, including the past increases in the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board (the "Federal Reserve") benchmark rate and duration at which such increased interest rate levels are maintained, which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses, the value of assets and obligations, and the availability and cost of capital and liquidity; the impact of continuing inflation and the current and future monetary policies of the Federal Reserve in response thereto; the effects of any federal government shutdown; increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets; fluctuations in deposits; liquidity issues, including our ability to borrow funds or raise additional capital, if necessary; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative press about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment; legislative and regulatory changes, including changes in banking, securities and tax law, in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation of regulatory capital or other rules; disruptions, security breaches, or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on the third-party vendors who perform several of our critical processing functions; the effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, and other external events on our business; and other factors described in the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") - which are available on our website at www.myprovident.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. These risks could cause our actual results for fiscal 2024 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of us and could negatively affect our operating and stock price performance.           Contacts:      Donavon P. Ternes      Tam B. Nguyen     President and   Senior Vice President and     Chief Executive Officer   Chief Financial Officer     (951) 686-6060   (951) 686-6060           PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition(Unaudited –In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Information)                                        March 31,      December 31,      September 30,      June 30,      March 31,     2024     2023     2023     2023     2023   Assets                                    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 51,731     $ 46,878     $ 57,978     $ 65,849     $ 60,771   Investment securities - held to maturity, at cost with no allowance for credit losses     135,971       141,692       147,574       154,337       161,336   Investment securities - available for sale, at fair value with no allowance for credit losses     1,935       1,996       2,090       2,155       2,251   Loans held for investment, net of allowance for credit losses of $7,108; $7,000; $7,679; $5,946 and $6,001, respectively; includes $1,054; $1,092; $1,061; $1,312 and $1,352 of loans held at fair value, respectively     1,065,761       1,075,765       1,072,170       1,077,629       1,077,704   Accrued interest receivable     4,249       4,076       3,952       3,711       3,610   FHLB – San Francisco stock     9,505       9,505       9,505       9,505       8,239   Premises and equipment, net     9,637       9,598       9,426       9,231       9,193   Prepaid expenses and other assets     11,258       11,583       10,420       10,531       12,176   Total assets   $ 1,290,047     $ 1,301,093     $ 1,313,115     $ 1,332,948     $ 1,335,280                                   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                                    Liabilities:                                    Non-interest-bearing deposits   $ 91,708     $ 94,030     $ 105,944     $ 103,007     $ 108,479   Interest-bearing deposits     816,414       817,950       825,187       847,564       874,567   Total deposits     908,122       911,980       931,131       950,571       983,046                                   Borrowings     235,000       242,500       235,009       235,009       205,010   Accounts payable, accrued interest and other liabilities     17,419       16,952       17,770       17,681       17,818   Total liabilities     1,160,541       1,171,432       1,183,910       1,203,261       1,205,874                                   Stockholders' equity:                                    Preferred stock, $.01 par value (2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding)     —       —       —       —       —   Common stock, $.01 par value; (40,000,000 shares authorized; 18,229,615; 18,229,615; 18,229,615; 18,229,615 and 18,229,615 shares issued respectively; 6,896,297; 6,946,348; 7,007,058; 7,043,170 and 7,033,963 shares outstanding, respectively)     183       183       183       183       183   Additional paid-in capital     99,591       99,565       99,554       99,505       98,962   Retained earnings     208,923       208,396       207,231       207,274       206,449   Treasury stock at cost (11,333,318; 11,283,267; 11,222,557; 11,186,445 and 11,195,652 shares, respectively)     (179,183 )     (178,476 )     (177,732 )     (177,237 )     (176,163 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (8 )     (7 )     (31 )     (38 )     (25 ) Total stockholders' equity     129,506       129,661       129,205       129,687       129,406   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 1,290,047     $ 1,301,093     $ 1,313,115     $ 1,332,948     $ 1,335,280                                                                                       PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations(Unaudited - In Thousands, Except Per Share Information)                               Quarter Ended   Nine Months Ended        March 31,      March 31,        2024      2023      2024        2023 Interest income:                             Loans receivable, net   $ 12,683   $ 11,028   $ 37,368     $ 30,365 Investment securities     517     548     1,565       1,632 FHLB – San Francisco stock     210     146     586       414 Interest-earning deposits     397     286     1,295       666 Total interest income     13,807     12,008     40,814       33,077                           Interest expense:                             Checking and money market deposits     90     56     219       177 Savings deposits     97     42     208       130 Time deposits     2,488     781     6,406       1,364 Borrowings     2,573     1,728     7,509       3,655 Total interest expense     5,248     2,607     14,342       5,326                           Net interest income     8,559     9,401     26,472       27,751 Provision for (recovery of) credit losses     124     169     (51 )     430 Net interest income, after provision for (recovery of) credit losses     8,435     9,232     26,523       27,321                           Non-interest income:                             Loan ...