STRASBURG, Va., April 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First National Corporation (the "Company" or "First National") (NASDAQ:FXNC), the bank holding company of First Bank (the "Bank"), reported unaudited consolidated net income of $3.2 million and diluted earnings per common share of $0.51 for the three months ended March 31, 2024. FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS Key highlights of the three months ended March 31, 2024 are as follows. Comparisons are to the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, unless otherwise stated: Return on average assets of 0.90% Return on average equity of 11.07% Deposits increased $25.4 million, or 8% annualized Noninterest-bearing deposits stable at 31% of total deposits Tangible book value per share increased to $18.27 Announced agreement to acquire Touchstone Bankshares, Inc. "We are pleased with the Company's performance in the first quarter with return on average assets of 0.90%, return on average equity of 11.07%, and tangible book value per share increasing to $18.27 per share from $17.30 from one year ago," said Scott Harvard, president and chief executive officer of First National. Harvard continued, "Following a disappointing fourth quarter, our team moved the bank forward reestablishing solid financial performance while undertaking a significant expansion opportunity in our recently announced agreement to acquire Touchstone Bankshares. We continue to remain optimistic about the ability of our team to drive value for our customers, our communities, and our shareholders." NET INTEREST INCOME Net interest income increased $41 thousand to $10.9 million for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. Total interest income increased by $1.1 million and was partially offset by an increase in total interest expense of $1.0 million. The $1.1 million increase in total interest income was primarily attributable to a $920 thousand increase in interest income on deposits in other banks and a $229 thousand increase in interest and fees on loans. The increase in interest income on deposits in other banks was attributable to a $73.7 million increase in average balances. The increase in interest and fees on loans was primarily attributable to a 14-basis point increase in the yield on the loan portfolio. The $1.0 million increase in total interest expense was attributable to a $539 thousand increase in interest expense on deposits and a $482 thousand increase in interest expense on other borrowings. The higher interest expense on deposits was primarily attributable to a 17-basis point increase in the cost of deposits. Interest expense on other borrowings resulted from a $50.0 million borrowing from the Federal Reserve Bank through its Bank Term Funding Program in December 2023. The bank invested the proceeds of the borrowing in interest-bearing deposits in banks, which resulted in an increase in net interest income and a decrease in net interest margin to 3.23% for the first quarter. NONINTEREST INCOME Noninterest income totaled $4.0 million for the first quarter of 2024, which was a $978 thousand increase over the prior quarter. Other operating income increased $1.2 million from a recovery on a charged-off loan that was acquired through a business combination in 2021. Service charges on deposits and ATM and check card income decreased, while wealth management income increased during the first quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company recorded a gain on sale of other investment totaling $186 thousand, which was the result of a contingency payment associated with a sale from a prior year. NONINTEREST EXPENSE Noninterest expense totaled $9.9 million for the first quarter of 2024, which was an increase of $787 thousand or 9% over the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily attributable to an $872 thousand or 17% increase in salaries and employee benefits expense, which resulted from lower expense in the prior quarter. There was an adjustment that decreased salaries and employee benefits expense in the fourth quarter as performance-based compensation was reduced to align with Company's 2023 financial results. ASSET QUALITY Overview Loans that were past due greater than 30 days and still accruing interest as a percentage of total loans decreased to 0.25% on March 31, 2024, compared to 0.31% on December 31, 2023, and 0.20% on March 31, 2023. Nonperforming assets ("NPAs") as a percentage of total assets increased to 0.55% on March 31, 2024, compared to 0.48% on December 31, 2023, and 0.13% on March 31, 2023. Net charge-offs totaled $362 thousand in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $2.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, and $915 thousand in the first quarter of 2023. The allowance for credit losses on loans totaled $12.6 million, or 1.30% of total loans on March 31, 2024, compared to $12.0 million, or 1.24% of total loans on December 31, 2023, and $8.7 million, or 0.95% of total loans on March 31, 2023. Past Due Loans Loans past due greater than 30 days and still accruing interest decreased to $2.5 million, or 0.25% of total loans on March 31, 2024, compared to $3.0 million, or 0.31% of total loans on December 31, 2023, and $1.9 million, or 0.20%, of total loans on March 31, 2023. Of the past due loans still accruing interest, $175 thousand was past due 90 days or more on March 31, 2024, compared to $524 thousand on December 31, 2023, and $47 thousand on March 31, 2023. Loans that were past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest were in the renewal process. Nonperforming Assets NPAs increased by $1.2 million to $8.0 million on March 31, 2024, compared to $6.8 million on December 31, 2023, and $1.6 million on March 31, 2023, which represented 0.55%, 0.48%, and 0.13% of total assets, respectively. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in nonaccrual commercial and industrial loans. Net Charge-offs Net charge-offs totaled $362 thousand for the first quarter of 2024 compared to $2.7 million for the prior quarter, and $916 thousand for the first quarter of 2023. Net charge-offs included $315 thousand of commercial and industrial loans. Provision for Credit Losses The Bank recorded a $1.0 million provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2024, compared to a $6.0 million provision for credit losses for the fourth quarter of 2023. The first quarter provision was comprised of a $991 thousand provision for credit losses on loans and a $9 thousand provision for credit losses on held-to-maturity securities. There was no provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments. The provision for credit losses for the fourth quarter of 2023 was comprised of a $5.8 million provision for credit loss on loans, a $224 thousand provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments, and a $25 thousand recovery of credit losses on held-to-maturity securities. Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans On March 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses on loans totaled $12.6 million, compared to $12.0 million on December 31, 2023, and $8.7 million on March 31, 2023. The allowance increased in the first quarter of 2024 from a $859 thousand increase in specific reserves on individually evaluated loans, which was partially offset by a $230 thousand decrease in the collectively evaluated component of the allowance. The following table provides the changes in the allowance for credit losses on loans for the three-month periods ended (dollars in thousands):     March 31,2024     December 31, 2023     March 31, 2023   Allowance for credit losses on loans, beginning of period   $ 11,974     $ 8,896     $ 7,446   Adoption of CECL on January 1, 2023     -       -       2,187       $ 11,974     $ 8,896     $ 9,633   Net (charge-offs) recoveries     (362 )     (2,673 )     (916 ) Provision for credit losses on loans     991       5,751       -   Allowance for credit losses on loans, end of period   $ 12,603     $ 11,974     $ 8,717                             The allowance for credit losses on loans as a percentage of total loans totaled 1.30% on March 31, 2024, 1.24% on December 31, 2023, and 0.95% on March 31, 2023. Allowance for Credit Losses on Unfunded Commitments The allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments totaled $413 thousand on March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. There was no provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments for the first quarter of 2024. Provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments totaled $224 thousand for the fourth quarter of 2023. There was no provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments for the first quarter of 2023. Allowance for Credit Losses on Securities Held to Maturity The allowance for credit losses on securities totaled $116 thousand on March 31, 2024, compared to $107 thousand on December 31, 2023, and $133 thousand on March 31, 2023. The provision for credit losses on securities totaled $9 thousand for the first quarter of 2024, compared to a recovery of credit losses on securities of $24 thousand in the fourth quarter of 2023. There was no provision for credit losses on securities for the first quarter of 2023. LIQUIDITY Liquidity sources available to the Bank, including interest-bearing deposits in banks, unpledged securities available for sale, at fair value, unpledged securities held-to-maturity, at par, eligible to be pledged to the Federal Reserve Bank through its Bank Term Funding Program, and available lines of credit totaled $554.8 million on March 31, 2024, $512.7 million on December 31, 2023, and $562.3 million on March 31, 2023. The Bank maintains liquidity to fund loan growth and to meet potential demand from deposit customers, including potential volatile deposits. The estimated amount of uninsured customer deposits totaled $391.9 million on March 31, 2024, $368.2 million on December 31, 2023, and $407.5 million on March 31, 2023. Excluding municipal deposits, the estimated amount of uninsured customer deposits totaled $308.6 million on March 31, 2024, $293.7 million on December 31, 2023, and $330.4 million on March 31, 2023. BALANCE SHEET Assets totaled $1.4 billion on March 31, 2024, which was a $27.9 million, or 8% (annualized), increase from December 31, 2023, and a $74.9 million, or 5%, increase from March 31, 2023. The increase in total assets from the prior quarter was primarily due to a $54.3 million increase in interest-bearing deposits in banks, which was partially offset by a $22.4 million decrease in securities, held to maturity ("HTM"). Total assets increased from March 31, 2023 primarily due to a $64.4 million increase in interest-bearing deposits in banks and a $55.0 million increase in loans, which were partially offset by a $14.7 million decrease in securities, available for sale ("AFS"), and a $25.5 million decrease in HTM securities. At March 31, 2024, loans totaled $973.0 million, an increase of $3.5 million or 2% (annualized) from $969.4 million, at December 31, 2023. Quarterly average loans totaled $970.6 million, an increase of $5.4 million or 2% (annualized) from the prior quarter. At March 31, 2024, loans increased $55.0 million or 6% from March 31, 2023, and quarterly average loans increased $54.8 million or 6%. At March 31, 2024, total investments were $273.5 million, a decrease of $27.6 million from December 31, 2023, and a decrease of $40.2 million from March 31, 2023. AFS securities totaled $147.7 million at March 31, 2024, $152.9 million at December 31, 2023, and $162.4 million at March 31, 2023. At March 31, 2024, total net unrealized losses on the AFS securities portfolio were $22.2 million, an increase of $1.6 million from total net unrealized losses on AFS securities of $20.6 at December 31, 2023. HTM securities are carried at cost and totaled $125.8 million at March 31, 2024, $148.2 million at December 31, 2023, and $151.3 million at March 31, 2023 and had net unrealized losses of $11.9 million at March 31, 2024, an increase of $1.2 million from net unrealized losses on HTM securities of $10.7 at December 31, 2023. At March 31, 2024, total deposits were $1.3 billion, an increase of $25.4 million or approximately 8% (annualized) from December 31, 2023. Quarterly average deposits at March 31, 2024 increased from the prior quarter by $13.6 million or 4% (annualized). Total deposits at March 31, 2024 increased $17.6 million or 1% from March 31, 2023, and quarterly average deposits at March 31, 2024 increased $23.0 million or 8% from the same period in the prior year. Total deposits increased from the prior quarter due to a $20.5 million increase in interest-bearing deposits and a $4.9 million increase in noninterest-bearing demand deposits. Other borrowings totaled $50.0 million on March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, and were comprised of funds borrowed from the Federal Reserve Bank through their Bank Term Funding Program. There were no other borrowings on March 31, 2023. On March 31, 2024, other borrowings had a fixed interest rate of 4.76% and a maturity date of January 15, 2025. The Bank benefited from the borrowing from a reduction in interest rate risk and an increase in net interest income. The following table provides capital ratios at the periods ended:     March 31, 2024     December 31, 2023     March 31, 2023   Total capital ratio (2)     14.45 %     14.05 %     14.88 % Tier 1 capital ratio (2)     13.20 %     12.82 %     13.94 % Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio (2)     13.20 %     12.82 %     13.94 % Leverage ratio (2)     9.19 %     9.31 %     9.70 % Common equity to total assets (5)     8.14 %     8.19 %     8.15 % Tangible common equity to tangible assets (5) (6)     7.94 %     7.99 %     7.94 %                           At March 31, 2024, the Company's common equity to total assets ratio and tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio decreased compared to the prior quarter primarily due to the increase in total assets. These ratios were stable compared to the prior year. During the first quarter of 2024, the Company declared and paid cash dividends of $0.15 per common share, which was consistent with the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2023. NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES In addition to financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures that provide useful information for financial and operational decision making, evaluating trends, and comparing financial results to other financial institutions. The non-GAAP financial measures presented in this document include fully taxable equivalent interest income, the net interest margin, the efficiency ratio, and tangible common equity to tangible assets. The Company believes certain non-GAAP financial measures enhance the understanding of its business and performance. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and not a substitute for, or more important than, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to those reported by other financial institutions. A reconciliation of tax-exempt net interest income is included at the end of this release. ABOUT FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION First National Corporation (NASDAQ:FXNC) is the parent company and bank holding company of First Bank, a community bank that first opened for business in 1907 in Strasburg, Virginia. The Bank offers loan and deposit products and services through its website, www.fbvirginia.com, its mobile banking platform, a network of ATMs located throughout its market area, a loan production office, a customer service center in a retirement community, and 20 bank branch office locations located throughout the Shenandoah Valley, the central regions of Virginia, the Roanoke Valley, and in the city of Richmond. In addition to providing traditional banking services, the Bank operates a wealth management division under the name First Bank Wealth Management. First Bank also owns First Bank Financial Services, Inc., which owns an interest in an entity that provides title insurance services.  FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain information contained in this discussion may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements relate to the Company's future operations and are generally identified by phrases such as "the Company expects," "the Company believes" or words of similar import. Although the Company believes that its expectations with respect to the forward-looking statements are based upon reliable assumptions within the bounds of its knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company will not differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For details on factors that could affect expectations, future events, or results, see the risk factors and other cautionary language included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CONTACTS Scott C. Harvard   M. Shane Bell President and CEO   Executive Vice President and CFO (540) 465-9121   (540) 465-9121   FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATIONQuarterly Performance Summary(in thousands, except share and per share data)     (unaudited)       For the Quarter Ended       March 31,     December 31,     September 30,     June 30,     March 31,       2024     2023     2023     2023     2023   Income Statement                                         Interest income                                         Interest and fees on loans   $ 13,484     $ 13,255     $ 12,640     $ 11,886     $ 11,512   Interest on deposits in banks     1,288       368       338       759       344   Interest on securities                                         Taxable interest     1,224       1,318       1,323       1,306       1339   Tax-exempt interest     305       303       304       307       306   Dividends     33       30       26       28       27   Total interest income   $ 16,334     $ 15,274     $ 14,631     $ 14,286     $ 13,528   Interest expense                                         Interest on deposits   $ 4,771     $ 4,232     $ 3,810     $ 3,402     $ 2,216   Interest on subordinated debt     69       70       69       69       69   Interest on junior subordinated debt     68       68       69       67       67   Interest on other borrowings     576       94       —       3       —   Total interest expense   $ 5,484     $ 4,465     $ 3,948     $ 3,541     $ 2,352   Net interest income   $ 10,850     $ 10,809     $ 10,683     $ 10,745     $ 11,176   Provision for credit losses     1,000       5,950       100       100       —   Net interest income after provision for credit losses   $ 9,850     $ 4,859     $ 10,583     $ 10,645     $ 11,176   Noninterest income                                         Service charges on deposit accounts   $ 654     $ 718     $ 733     $ 683     $ 646   ATM and check card fees     770       825       976       848       800   Wealth management fees     883       784       811       749       776   Fees for other customer services     195       232       122       220       196   Brokered mortgage fees     38       46       38       35       —   Income from bank owned life insurance     151       168       175       135       149   Gain on sale of other investment     —