Pathward Financial, Inc. Announces Results for 2023 Fiscal Third Quarter

Pathward Financial, Inc. (“Pathward Financial” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: CASH) reported net income of $45.1 million, or $1.68 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2023, compared to net income of $22.4 million, or $0.76 per share, for the three months ended June 30, 2022. For the same period of the prior year, the Company recognized adjusted net income of $27.3 million, or $0.93 per share when excluding the impact of rebranding and separation expenses. See non-GAAP reconciliation table below.

CEO Brett Pharr said, “This quarter, Pathward once again produced solid results, consistent with our performance thus far in fiscal year 2023. Our results were driven by growth in net interest income and noninterest income compared to the same quarter in fiscal year 2022, with our net interest margin increasing to 6.18%. Our differentiated business model continues to deliver due to our stable deposit base and healthy commercial finance portfolio. Based on this performance, we are increasing our fiscal year 2023 GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance to $5.60 to $6.00 and introducing fiscal year 2024 GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance of $6.10 to $6.60.”

Company Highlights

• The Company launched a new line of credit for consumers with Propel Holdings Inc. and paired with Clair to offer spending and savings accounts as well as earned wage advances. Additionally, the Company announced a new partnership where it has become the banking partner to Finix to support their launch as a payments processor.
• On July 24, 2023, the Company published its third annual ESG report, which can be found on its website. The report documents the Company's progress over fiscal year 2022 showing the implementation plans, programs and policies that built on its culture as well as the Company's purpose to power Financial Inclusion for All.

Financial Highlights for the 2023 Fiscal Third Quarter

• Total revenue for the third quarter was $165.2 million, an increase of $39.1 million, or 31%, compared to the same quarter in fiscal 2022, driven by an increase in both net interest income and noninterest income.
• Net interest margin ("NIM") increased 142 basis points to 6.18% for the third quarter from 4.76% during the same period of last year primarily driven by increased yields and an improved earnings asset mix from the continued optimization of the portfolio.
• Total gross loans and leases at June 30, 2023 increased $384.3 million to $4.07 billion, compared to June 30, 2022 and increased $347.3 million, or 9%, when compared to March 31, 2023. The increase compared to the prior year quarter was primarily due to growth in the commercial finance portfolio, partially offset by a reduction in consumer finance loans driven by the sale of the $81.5 million student loan portfolio during the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter and a reduction in warehouse finance loans. The primary drivers for the increase on a linked quarter basis was growth in both commercial finance and consumer finance loans.
• During the 2023 fiscal third quarter, the Company repurchased 490,120 shares of common stock at an average share price of $43.83. An additional 248,550 shares of common stock at an average price of $50.23 were repurchased in July 2023 through July 21, 2023. As of July 21, 2023, there are 1,729,613 shares available for repurchase under the common stock share repurchase program announced during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021.
• The Company is raising fiscal year 2023 GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance to a range of $5.60 to $6.00. The Company is also introducing fiscal year 2024 GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance in the range of $6.10 to $6.60. See Outlook section below.

Tax Season Recap

For the nine months ended June 30, 2023, total tax services product revenue was $79.7 million, a decrease of 3% compared to the same period of the prior year. This was driven by a decrease in refund advance fee income partially offset by an increase in refund transfer fee income. Provision expense for refund advances increased 17% compared to the prior year. This increase was due to a mix shift from partnership channels to independent tax providers, which was expected.

Total tax services product income, net of losses and direct product expenses, decreased 19% to $35.3 million from $43.5 million, when comparing the first nine months of fiscal 2023 to the same period of the prior fiscal year. The overall decrease in tax services product income was primarily due to higher provision expense and the two tax partners that the Company did not renew heading into the 2023 tax season, as previously disclosed.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the third quarter of fiscal 2023 was $97.5 million, an increase of 35% from the same quarter in fiscal 2022. The increase was mainly attributable to increased yields, higher interest-earning asset balances and an improved earning asset mix.

The Company’s average interest-earning assets for the third fiscal quarter increased by $244.4 million to $6.33 billion compared with the same quarter in fiscal 2022, primarily due to growth in loans and leases and an increase in total investment balances, partially offset by a decrease in cash balances. The third quarter average outstanding balance of loans and leases increased $171.6 million compared to the same quarter of the prior fiscal year, primarily due to an increase in commercial finance loans, partially offset by decreases in consumer finance loans, warehouse finance loans, and tax services loans.

Fiscal 2023 third quarter NIM increased to 6.18% from 4.76% in the third fiscal quarter of last year. When including contractual card processing expense, NIM would have been 4.88% in the fiscal 2023 third quarter compared to 4.62% during the fiscal 2022 third quarter. The overall reported tax-equivalent yield (“TEY”) on average earning asset yields increased 142 basis points to 6.31% compared to the prior year quarter, driven by an increase in loan and lease, investment securities and cash yields. The yield on the loan and lease portfolio was 8.31% compared to 6.69% for the comparable period last year and the TEY on the securities portfolio was 2.96% compared to 2.14% over that same period.

The Company's cost of funds for all deposits and borrowings averaged 0.13% during the fiscal 2023 third quarter, as compared to 0.12% during the prior year quarter. The Company's overall cost of deposits was 0.01% in the fiscal third quarter of 2023, as compared to 0.01% during the prior year quarter. When including contractual card processing expense, the Company's overall cost of deposits was 1.41% in the fiscal 2023 third quarter, as compared to 0.16% during the prior year quarter.

Noninterest Income

Fiscal 2023 third quarter noninterest income increased to $67.7 million, compared to $54.0 million for the same period of the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in card and deposit fees, rental income and other income. The period-over-period increase was partially offset by a reduction in tax services fee income.

The increase in card and deposit fee income was primarily from servicing fee income on off-balance sheet deposits, which totaled $14.6 million during the 2023 fiscal third quarter, as compared to $18.2 million for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023 and $0.5 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense increased 19% to $114.6 million for the fiscal 2023 third quarter, from $96.7 million for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily attributable to increases in card processing expense, compensation expense, other expense, impairment expense, and operating lease equipment depreciation. The period-over-period increase was partially offset by a decrease in legal and consulting expense and tax services expense. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2023, the Company recognized $2.7 million of impairment expense related to an investment in its Pathward Venture Capital business.

The card processing expense increase was due to structured agreements with Banking as a Service ("BaaS") partners. The amount of expense paid under those agreements is based on an agreed upon rate index that varies depending on the deposit levels, floor rates, market conditions, and other performance conditions. Generally this rate index averages between 50% to 85% of the Effective Federal Funds Rate ("EFFR") and reprices immediately upon a change in the EFFR. Approximately 48% of the deposit portfolio was subject to these higher card processing expenses during the 2023 fiscal third quarter. For the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2023, card processing expenses related to these structured agreements were $20.5 million, as compared to $20.4 million for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023 and $2.2 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2022.

Income Tax Expense

The Company recorded an income tax expense of $3.2 million, representing an effective tax rate of 6.6%, for the fiscal 2023 third quarter, compared to income tax expense of $7.0 million, representing an effective tax rate of 22.6%, for the third quarter last fiscal year. The current quarter decrease in income tax expense was primarily due to an increase in investment tax credits recognized ratably when compared to the prior year quarter.

The Company originated $21.4 million in renewable energy leases during the fiscal 2023 third quarter, resulting in $5.8 million in total net investment tax credits. During the third quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company originated $4.4 million in renewable energy leases resulting in $1.0 million in total net investment tax credits. Investment tax credits related to renewable energy leases are recognized ratably based on income throughout each fiscal year. For the nine months ended June 30, 2023, the Company originated $50.9 million in renewable energy leases, compared to $26.9 million for the comparable prior year period. The timing and impact of future renewable energy tax credits are expected to vary from period to period, and the Company intends to undertake only those tax credit opportunities that meet the Company's underwriting and return criteria.

Outlook

The following forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s expectations as of the date of this release and are subject to substantial uncertainty. The Company's results may be materially affected by many factors, such as changes in economic conditions and customer demand, changes in interest rates, adverse developments in the financial services industry generally, inflation, competition, and other factors detailed below under “Forward-looking Statements.” Because the Company’s reported GAAP results include certain income and expense items that are not expected to continue indefinitely and may include additional elements that the Company cannot currently predict, the Company is also providing guidance on a non-GAAP or “adjusted” basis for fiscal year 2023. The Company is not currently aware of any such income or expense items expected to impact fiscal year 2024.

The Company is raising its fiscal year 2023 GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance and expects it to be in the range of $5.60 to $6.00. The Company expects its effective tax rate to range between 10% and 14% for fiscal year 2023. When adjusting for gain on sale of trademarks and rebrand related expenses, the Company expects fiscal year 2023 adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $5.45 to $5.85. See non-GAAP reconciliation table below.

The Company is also introducing fiscal year 2024 GAAP earnings per diluted share guidance in the range of $6.10 to $6.60. As part of this guidance, the Company expects that its annual effective tax rate in fiscal year 2024 will range between 16% and 20%.

Investments, Loans and Leases

The Company's investment security balances at June 30, 2023 totaled $1.95 billion, as compared to $1.86 billion at March 31, 2023 and $2.00 billion at June 30, 2022.

Total gross loans and leases totaled $4.07 billion at June 30, 2023, as compared to $3.73 billion at March 31, 2023 and $3.69 billion at June 30, 2022. The primary driver for the increase on a linked quarter basis was due to increases in commercial finance, consumer finance, and warehouse finance, partially offset by a decrease in seasonal tax services loans. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to an increase in commercial finance loans and tax services loans, partially offset by a reduction in consumer finance loans driven by the sale of the student loan portfolio during the fiscal 2022 fourth quarter and a reduction in warehouse finance loans.

Commercial finance loans, which comprised 85% of the Company's loan and lease portfolio, totaled $3.44 billion at June 30, 2023, reflecting an increase of $308.1 million, or 10%, from March 31, 2023 and an increase of $492.8 million, or 17%, from June 30, 2022. The increase in commercial finance loans on linked quarter basis was primarily driven by a $228.6 million increase in the insurance premium finance portfolio. The increase in commercial finance loans when comparing the current period to the same period of the prior year was primarily driven by increases in the SBA/USDA, insurance premium finance, and term lending portfolios, partially offset by reductions in the factoring, asset-based lending, and lease financing portfolios.

Asset Quality

The Company’s allowance for credit losses ("ACL") totaled $81.9 million at June 30, 2023, a decrease compared to $84.3 million at March 31, 2023 and an increase compared to $75.2 million at June 30, 2022. The decrease in the ACL at June 30, 2023, when compared to March 31, 2023, was primarily due to a $1.3 million decrease in the allowance related to the commercial finance portfolio and a $1.1 million decrease in the allowance related to the consumer finance portfolio.

The $6.7 million year-over-year increase in the ACL was primarily driven by a $10.5 million increase in the allowance related to the seasonal tax services portfolio and a $0.7 million increase in the allowance related to the commercial finance portfolio, partially offset by a decrease of $4.5 million in the allowance related to the consumer finance portfolio. The year-over-year increase in the allowance related to the seasonal tax services portfolio was primarily attributable to prior year charge-off activity related to a partner the Company did not renew after the 2022 tax season. The year-over-year decrease in the allowance related to the consumer finance portfolio was primarily attributable to the sale of the student loan portfolio during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

The following table presents the Company's ACL as a percentage of its total loans and leases.

The Company's ACL as a percentage of total loans and leases decreased to 2.01% at June 30, 2023 from 2.27% at March 31, 2023. The decrease in the total loans and leases coverage ratio was primarily driven by the commercial finance and consumer finance portfolios, partially offset by an increase in the seasonal tax services portfolio. The decrease in the consumer finance portfolio was related to seasonal activity. The Company expects to continue to diligently monitor the ACL and adjust as necessary in future periods to maintain an appropriate and supportable level.

Activity in the allowance for credit losses for the periods presented was as follows.

The Company recognized a provision for credit losses of $1.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to a reversal of provision for credit losses expense of $1.3 million for the comparable period in the prior fiscal year. The increase in provision for credit losses during the current quarter compared to the prior year period was primarily driven by increases in the commercial finance portfolio. Net charge-offs were $4.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2023, compared to $12.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Net charge-offs attributable to the commercial finance and consumer finance portfolios for the current quarter were $2.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively, while a recovery of $0.3 million was recognized in the tax services portfolio.

The Company's past due loans and leases were as follows for the periods presented.

The Company's nonperforming assets at June 30, 2023 were $40.8 million, representing 0.55% of total assets, compared to $30.1 million, or 0.44% of total assets at March 31, 2023 and $26.8 million, or 0.40% of total assets at June 30, 2022.

The Company's nonperforming loans and leases at June 30, 2023, were $38.8 million, representing 0.93% of total gross loans and leases, compared to $28.5 million, or 0.76% of total gross loans and leases at March 31, 2023 and $26.6 million, or 0.71% of total gross loans and leases at June 30, 2022.

The increase in the nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets at June 30, 2023 compared to March 31, 2023, was driven by an increase in nonperforming loans in the commercial finance portfolio, primarily due to one sizable relationship moving to nonaccrual during the current quarter. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in nonperforming loans in the consumer finance portfolio. When comparing the current period to the same period of the prior year, the increase in nonperforming assets was due to an increase in nonperforming loans in the commercial finance portfolio, partially offset by a decrease in nonperforming loans in the consumer finance portfolio.

The Company has various portfolios of consumer lending and tax services loans that present unique risks that are statistically managed. Due to the unique risks associated with these portfolios, the Company monitors other credit quality indicators in their evaluation of the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses on these portfolios, and as such, these loans are not included in the asset classification table below. The Company's loans and leases held for investment by asset classification were as follows for the periods presented.

Deposits, Borrowings and Other Liabilities

Total average deposits for the fiscal 2023 third quarter increased by $154.2 million to $5.90 billion compared to the same period in fiscal 2022. The increase in average deposits was primarily due to increases in noninterest bearing deposits and money market deposits, partially offset by a decrease in savings deposits, wholesale deposits, and time deposits.

The average balance of total deposits and interest-bearing liabilities was $6.01 billion for the three-month period ended June 30, 2023, compared to $5.81 billion for the same period in the prior fiscal year, representing an increase of 3%.

Total end-of-period deposits increased 10% to $6.31 billion at June 30, 2023, compared to $5.71 billion at June 30, 2022. The increase in end-of-period deposits was primarily driven by increases in noninterest-bearing deposits of $562.3 million and money market deposits of $45.1 million, partially offset by decreases in savings deposits of $7.8 million, certificate of deposits of $2.7 million, and wholesale deposits of $0.9 million.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $966.6 billion in deposits related to government stimulus programs. Of the total amount of government stimulus program deposits, $349.4 million are on activated cards while $617.2 million are on inactivated cards. Between July 2023 and the end of fiscal year 2024, these card balances are expected to decrease by approximately $450 million as the Company actively returns unclaimed balances to the U.S. Treasury.

As of June 30, 2023, the Company managed $781 million of customer deposits at other banks in its capacity as custodian. These deposits provide the Company with excess deposits that can earn record keeping service fee income, typically reflective of the EFFR.

Approximately 48% of the deposit balances at June 30, 2023 are subject to variable card processing expenses that are derived from the terms of contractual agreements with certain BaaS partners. These agreements are tied to a portion of a rate index, typically the EFFR.

Regulatory Capital

The Company and its subsidiary Pathward®, N.A. (the "Bank") remained above the federal regulatory minimum capital requirements at June 30, 2023, and continued to be classified as well-capitalized, and in good standing with the regulatory agencies. Regulatory capital ratios of the Company and the Bank are stated in the table below. Regulatory capital is not affected by the unrealized loss on accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”). The securities portfolio is primarily comprised of amortizing securities that should provide consistent cash flow. The Company does not intend to sell these securities, or recognize the unrealized losses on its income statement, to fund future loan growth.

The tables below include certain non-GAAP financial measures that are used by investors, analysts and bank regulatory agencies to assess the capital position of financial services companies. Management reviews these measures along with other measures of capital as part of its financial analysis.

The following table provides the non-GAAP financial measures used to compute certain of the ratios included in the table above, as well as a reconciliation of such non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP:

The following table provides a reconciliation of tangible common equity and tangible common equity excluding AOCI, each of which is used in calculating tangible book value data, to Total Stockholders' Equity. Each of tangible common equity and tangible common equity excluding AOCI is a non-GAAP financial measure that is commonly used within the banking industry.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and earnings webcast with a corresponding presentation at 4:00 p.m. Central Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The live webcast of the call can be accessed from Pathward’s Investor Relations website at www.pathwardfinancial.com. Telephone participants may access the conference call by dialing 1-833-470-1428 approximately 10 minutes prior to start time and reference access code 572170. A webcast replay will also be archived at www.pathwardfinancial.com for one year.

About Pathward Financial, Inc.

Pathward Financial, Inc.(Nasdaq: CASH) is a U.S.-based financial holding company driven by its purpose to power financial inclusion for all. Through our subsidiary, Pathward®, N.A., we strive to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity across our Banking as a Service and Commercial Finance business lines. These strategic business lines provide end-to-end support to individuals and businesses. Learn more at www.pathwardfinancial.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The Company and the Bank may from time to time make written or oral “forward-looking statements,” including statements contained in this press release, the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the Company’s reports to stockholders, and in other communications by the Company and the Bank, which are made in good faith by the Company pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “hope,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “could,” “future,” or the negative of those terms, or other words of similar meaning or similar expressions. You should carefully read statements that contain these words because they discuss our future expectations or state other “forward-looking” information. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and assumptions about future events, and include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, expectations, estimates, and intentions, which are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause our actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance and business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Such statements address, among others, the following subjects: future operating results including our earnings per share guidance, future effective tax rate and related performance expectations; the performance of our securities portfolio; the impact of card balances related to government stimulus programs; customer retention; loan and other product demand; new products and services; credit quality; the level of net charge-offs and the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses; and technology. The following factors, among others, could cause the Company's financial performance and results of operations to differ materially from the expectations, estimates, and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements: maintaining our executive management team; expected growth opportunities may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the potential adverse effects of unusual and infrequently occurring events, including the impact on financial markets from geopolitical conflicts such as the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine; weather-related disasters, or public health events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and any governmental or societal responses thereto; our ability to achieve brand recognition for the Bank equal to or greater than we enjoyed for MetaBank; our ability to successfully implement measures designed to reduce expenses and increase efficiencies; changes in trade, monetary, and fiscal policies and laws, including actual changes in interest rates and the Fed Funds rate, and their related impacts on macroeconomic conditions, customer behavior, or funding costs and or loan and securities portfolio; changes in tax laws; the strength of the United States' economy and the local economies in which the Company operates; adverse developments in the financial services industry generally such as recent bank failures, responsive measures to mitigate and manage such developments, related supervisory and regulatory actions and costs, and related impacts on customer behavior; inflation, market, and monetary fluctuations; the timely and efficient development of new products and services offered by the Company or its strategic partners, as well as risks (including reputational and litigation) attendant thereto, and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users; the Bank's ability to maintain its Durbin Amendment exemption; the risks of dealing with or utilizing third parties, including, in connection with the Company’s prepaid card and tax refund advance businesses, the risk of reduced volume of refund advance loans as a result of reduced customer demand for or usage of the Bank's strategic partners’ refund advance products; our relationship with, and any actions which may be initiated by, our regulators; changes in financial services laws and regulations, including laws and regulations relating to the tax refund industry and the insurance premium finance industry; technological changes, including, but not limited to, the protection of our electronic systems and information; the impact of acquisitions and divestitures; litigation risk; the growth of the Company’s business, as well as expenses related thereto; continued maintenance by the Bank of its status as a well-capitalized institution; changes in consumer spending and saving habits; losses from fraudulent or illegal activity; technological risks and developments and cyber threats, attacks, or events; and the success of the Company at maintaining its high quality asset level and managing and collecting assets of borrowers in default should problem assets increase.

The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Additional discussions of factors affecting the Company’s business and prospects are reflected under the caption “Risk Factors” and in other sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2022, and in other filings made with the SEC. The Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries, whether as a result of new information, changed circumstances, or future events or for any other reason.

Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and in rates. Only the yield/rate reflects tax-equivalent adjustments. Nonaccruing loans and leases have been included in the table as loans carrying a zero yield.