Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. Reports Second Quarter Net Income of $13.3 Million and Diluted EPS of $1.55

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (the “Company”) (NYSE: MCB), the holding company for Metropolitan Commercial Bank (the “Bank”), today reported net income of $13.3 million, or $1.55 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2021 compared to net income of $10.8 million, or $1.29 per diluted common share, for the second quarter of 2020.

Financial Highlights include:

• Total revenues of $43.1 million, up 20.4% from the prior year quarter, and up 26.9% excluding gain on sale of securities1 recorded in each period
• Second quarter earnings per share of $1.55, up 20.2% from the prior year quarter
• Book value per share was $42.92 per share, up 14.2% and tangible book value per share1 was $41.75, up 14.7% from prior year quarter
• Annualized return on average equity of 15.0% and an annualized return on average tangible common equity1 of 15.7%
• Loans were up 6.5% from the linked quarter and 19.3% from June 30, 2020
• Deposits were up 19.5% from the linked quarter and 55.8% from June 30, 2020, with non-interest bearing demand deposits increasing by $1.3 billion or 83.0% since June 30, 2020.
• Efficiency ratio1 improved to 50.3% compared to 51.1% for the prior year quarter

Mark DeFazio, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our second quarter results, which underscore our sustainable and resilient organic growth, highlight the business model and values we developed 22 years ago when MCB was founded. At its core, MCB is a commercial bank that consistently drives organic loan and deposit growth, which provides sustainable growth in net income, tangible book value per share and EPS. Given our early strategic vision and foresight on industry change, we developed a unique ability to collaborate with fintech clients well before “fintech” was a term. Our Global Payments Group continues to pave the way for the transformation of MCB that allows us to simultaneously be a high performing commercial bank and a critical financial infrastructure partner to fintechs. Our Global Payments Group, with revenue growth and stable, non-interest-bearing deposits, continues to be a meaningful source of liquidity. As our fintech partners continue to gain market share, MCB is well positioned to benefit from this vertical’s low acquisition cost of deposits.

As we approach the end of our fourth year as a public company, I am reminded that our people make the difference. Without the dedication and effort of the entire MCB team, including through the challenges of the pandemic, we would not be able to deliver on our promise to our clients to help them build and sustain generational wealth. A heartfelt thank you goes out to the entire MCB team for all they do to make this a reality,” Mr. DeFazio concluded.

1non-GAAP financial measure. See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures starting on page 12.

Balance Sheet

The Company had total assets of $5.8 billion at June 30, 2021, an increase of 45.8% from June 30, 2020. Total loans net of deferred fees and unamortized costs increased to $3.5 billion at June 30, 2021, as compared to $2.9 billion at June 30, 2020. The increase in total loans from June 30, 2020 was due primarily to an increase of $225 million in commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans (including construction and multifamily loans) and $335 million in commercial and industrial loans. Loan production was $501 million year to date at June 30, 2021 compared to $330 million year to date at June, 30 2020.

Total cash and cash equivalents were $1,7 billion at June 30, 2021, an increase of 108.9% from June 30, 2020. The increase in cash and cash equivalents reflects the strong growth in deposits. Total securities, primarily those classified as available-for-sale (“AFS”), were $548 million at June 30, 2021, an increase of 181.0% from June 30, 2020 due to the deployment of excess liquidity from deposit growth.

Total deposits increased to $5.3 billion at June 30, 2021, up 55.8% from $3.4 billion at June 30, 2020. The increase in deposits was due to increases of $1.3 billion in non-interest-bearing deposits and $626 million in interest-bearing deposits, resulting from increases across most deposit verticals. Non-interest-bearing deposits were 52.8% of total deposits at June 30, 2021, as compared to 45.0% at June 30, 2020.

The Company and the Bank each meet all the requirements to be considered “Well-Capitalized” under applicable regulatory guidelines. Total non-owner-occupied commercial real estate loans were 442.6% of total risk-based capital at June 30, 2021 compared to 422.0% of total risk based capital at June 30, 2020.

Income Statement

Financial Highlights

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the second quarter of 2021 was $37.0 million, an increase of $2.6 million from the linked quarter. This increase was primarily due to a higher average balance of $5.5 billion in interest-earning assets for the second quarter of 2021, which increased $816 million from the linked quarter. This increase was partially offset by an increase of $253 million in average interest-bearing liabilities, which were $2.4 billion for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to $2.2 billion for the linked quarter.

Net interest income increased $6.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to the second quarter of 2020, primarily due to an increase of $1.7 billion in the average balance of interest-earning assets for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to the second quarter of 2020. This was partially offset by a $423 million increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to the second quarter of 2020.

Net Interest Margin

Net interest margin decreased by 32 basis points to 2.68% for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to 3.00% for the linked quarter, primarily due to increased lower yielding overnight deposits driven by deposit growth. Additionally, the average cost of interest-bearing deposits remained at 0.60%.

Net interest margin decreased by 51 basis points to 2.68% for the second quarter of 2021 as compared to 3.19% for the second quarter of 2020, primarily due to increased low yielding overnight deposits driven by deposit growth; partially offset by a decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities driven by the lower rate environment.

Total cost of funds was 32 basis points, a decrease of 3 basis points from the linked quarter, and a decrease of 16 basis points from the prior year quarter, given the shift in mix toward non-interest bearing deposits.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income was $6.2 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $1.6 million from the linked quarter driven primarily by a $0.4 million increase in Global Payments Group revenue, which continues to see strong increases in client transaction volumes driving revenue growth, a $0.6 million increase in recognized gains on sales of AFS securities and an increase of $0.5 million in service charges and fees.

Non-interest income for the second quarter of 2021 increased by $0.5 million, as compared to the second quarter of 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $1.5 million of Global Payments Group revenue, an increase of $0.7 million in service charges and fees, offset by a reduction in recognized gains on sales of AFS securities of $1.7 million.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense was $21.7 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $1.4 million from the linked quarter. The primary drivers were a $0.7 million increase in professional fees and a $0.5 million increase in technology costs, both of which primarily related to business and volume growth.

Non-interest expense increased $3.4 million for the second quarter of 2021, as compared to the second quarter of 2020. Drivers included an increase in compensation and benefits cost due to additional full-time employees along with annual salary adjustments and increases in professional fees in line with business and volume growth, partially offset by reduced licensing fees given the LIBOR rate reduction.

Asset Quality

Credit quality remains strong with no charge offs in the second quarter of 2021, while non-performing loans fell to 0.2% of total loans. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company recorded a credit provision of $1.9 million primarily driven by loan growth. COVID-19 related full payment deferrals declined to $11.0 million, or 0.3% of the total loan portfolio as of June 30, 2021. Principal only deferrals remained steady at $37.3 million or 1.1% of total loans as of the same date.

About Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp.

Metropolitan Bank Holding Corp. (NYSE: MCB) is the holding company for Metropolitan Commercial Bank. The Bank provides a broad range of business, commercial and personal banking products and services to small and middle-market businesses, public entities and affluent individuals in the New York metropolitan area. Founded in 1999, the Bank is headquartered in New York City and operates six locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Great Neck, Long Island. The Bank is also an active issuer of debit cards for third-party debit card programs and provides critical global payments infrastructure to its fintech partners. the Bank is a New York State chartered commercial bank and a Federal Reserve System member bank whose deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), and an equal opportunity lender. For more information, please visit www.mcbankny.com.

Forward Looking Statement Disclaimer

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the Company’s financial condition and capital ratios, results of operations and the Company’s outlook and business. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts. Such statements may be identified by the use of such words as “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “continue” or similar terminology. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause our forward-looking statements to be materially inaccurate include, but are not limited to an unexpected deterioration in our loan or securities portfolios, unexpected increases in our expenses, greater than anticipated growth and our ability to manage our growth, unanticipated regulatory action or changes in regulations, unexpected changes in interest rates, an unanticipated decrease in deposits, an unanticipated loss of key personnel or existing customers, competition from other institutions resulting in unanticipated changes in our loan or deposit rates, unanticipated increases in FDIC costs, changes in regulations, legislation or accounting rules and unanticipated adverse changes in our customers’ economic conditions or general economic conditions, as well as those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Further, given its ongoing and dynamic nature, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business. The extent of such impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including when the coronavirus can be controlled and abated and when and whether the continued reopening of businesses will result in a meaningful increase in economic activity. As the result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related adverse local and national economic consequences, we could be subject to any of the following risks, any of which could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations: the demand for our products and services may decline, making it difficult to grow assets and income; if the economy is unable to substantially reopen, and higher levels of unemployment continue for an extended period of time, loan delinquencies, problem assets, and foreclosures may increase, resulting in increased charges and reduced income; collateral for loans, especially real estate, may decline in value, which could cause loan losses to increase; our allowance for loan losses may increase if borrowers experience financial difficulties, which will adversely affect our net income; the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to us; our cyber security risks may increase if a significant number of our employees are forced to working remotely; and FDIC premiums may increase if the agency experiences additional resolution costs. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited)

Net Interest Margin Analysis

(1) Amount includes deferred loan fees and non-performing loans.
(2) Determined by subtracting the annualized weighted average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities from the annualized weighted average yield on total interest-earning assets.
(3) Determined by dividing annualized net interest income by total average interest-earning assets.
(4) Determined by dividing annualized interest expense by the sum of total average interest-bearing liabilities and total average non-interest-bearing deposits.

(1) Amount includes deferred loan fees and non-performing loans.
(2) Determined by subtracting the annualized weighted average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities from the annualized weighted average yield on total interest-earning assets.
(3) Determined by dividing annualized net interest income by total average interest-earning assets.
(4) Determined by dividing annualized interest expense by the sum of total average interest-bearing liabilities and total average non-interest-bearing deposits.

Summary of Income and Performance Measures

Five Quarter Trend (unaudited)

*Non-GAAP financial measure. See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP measures on page 12.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Summary, Five Quarter Trend (unaudited)

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to the results presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), this earnings release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful information to investors in understanding the Company’s operating performance and trends. These non-GAAP measures have inherent limitations and are not required to be uniformly applied and are not audited. They should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of results reported under GAAP. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Reconciliations of non-GAAP/adjusted financial measures disclosed in this earnings release to the comparable GAAP measures are provided in the following table: