Arizona Tribune - Cashmere Valley Bank Reports Strong Quarterly Earnings of $8.0 Million, Increases Semi-Annual Dividend to $0.95 Per Share

As of June 30, 2025, deposit balances totaled $1.839 billion, an increase of $1.2 million, or 0.1%, from December 31, 2024. From the same period last year, deposit balances increased $66.7 million, or 3.8%.

"I am very pleased with our financial results," said Greg Oakes, President and CEO. "Our net interest margin is expanding slowly but steadily, which has benefited net income. Loan and deposit growth have been a challenge but we continue to look for opportunities to grow. We are hopeful that we will break ground during the third quarter for our new East Wenatchee location off Grant Rd."

Q2 Highlights

The Bank reported the following statement of condition highlights as of June 30, 2025:

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $210.1 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $159.1 million at June 30, 2024. Management has focused on retaining higher cash balances due to the inversion in the treasury yield curve and management's goal to retain excess liquidity.

Investments

The fair value of the Bank's investment portfolio totaled $920.7 million at June 30, 2025, which represented an increase of $135.2 million from June 30, 2024. Held to maturity securities, net of allowance, totaled $126.6 million as of June 30, 2025 compared to $133.4 million as of June 30, 2024. Interest income on the securities portfolio increased from the prior year by $1.8 million to $18.4 million.

A gain on sale of securities of $130,000 was recorded in the first quarter as part of a small repositioning effort within the securities portfolio.

Loans and Credit Quality

Gross loans totaled $971.7 billion as of June 30, 2025 which represented an increase of $9.3 million from December 31, 2024 and a decrease of $43.8 million from June 30, 2024. Since December 31, 2024, commercial and agriculture loans increased $12.2 million, of which $5.8 million in growth originated in Equipment Finance loans, and commercial real estate loans increased $9.7 million. Construction and land development loans decreased $16.0 million and multifamily loans decreased $9.9 million since year end.

At June 30, 2025, the allowance for credit losses on loans (ACL) was 1.24% of gross loans as compared to 1.30% one year ago. The allowance balance was $12.0 million as of June 30, 2025.

Credit quality remains strong with non-performing loans representing 0.41% of gross loans as of June 30, 2025. This is an increase from 0.23% as of June 30, 2024.

Deposits

Total deposits increased by $66.7 million, or 3.8%, from June 30, 2024. From December 31, 2024 to June 30, 2025 total deposits increased $1.2 million, or 0.1%. Non-interest deposits totaled $397.4 million as of June 30, 2025, which represented 21.6% of total deposits. Since June 30, 2024 time deposits have increased $74.1 million to $538.8 million. The Bank's cost of funds has increased one basis point from June 30, 2024 to 1.65%.

Equity

As of June 30, 2025, Tier 1 capital remains strong. Tier 1 capital increased to $290.3 million from $266.7 million at June 30, 2024, due to earnings less dividends paid.

GAAP capital reflected an increase of $31.1 million from June 30, 2024, and an increase of $17.1 million from December 31, 2024. As of June 30, 2024, the Bank's GAAP capital to assets ratio was 11.38% as compared to 10.60% one year ago. GAAP capital levels increased primarily due to Bank earnings and a reduction of $5.6 million in unrealized losses. As of June 30, 2025, the capital effect from unrealized losses on available for sale securities and swaps totaled $53.1 million.

Earnings

Net Interest Income

For the six months ended, June 30, 2025, net interest income totaled $33.0 million compared to $30.9 million in the same period in 2024. Interest income from available for sale and held to maturity securities improved by $1.8 million, and income from cash increased $774,000. Interest income growth was partially offset by an increase in interest expense of $465,000. Loan income increased by $55,000 despite decreasing loan balances.

For the quarter ending June 30, 2025, net interest income increased $580,000 from the quarter ended March 31, 2025. The increase from the prior quarter was due to additional interest income on loans and securities. These increases were partially offset by an increase in borrowing costs and a reduction in income from cash holdings. The increase in borrowings was related to a $50.0 million borrowing and security purchase transaction. Derivatives were used against the borrowings and a portion of the investment purchases to help reduce interest rate risk, while locking in income spreads.

The net interest margin was 3.20% for the first six months of 2025, compared to 3.11% during the first six months of 2024. For the quarter ending June 30, 2025 the net interest margin was 3.23% as compared to 3.17% in the first quarter of 2024.

Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income totaled $11.1 million in the first six months of 2025 as compared to $10.0 million in the first six months of 2024. Insurance commissions and fees from the Bank's subsidiary Mitchell, Reed and Schmitten increased $974,000.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense totaled $25.4 million in the first six months of 2025, as compared to $23.7 million in the first six months of 2024. Salaries and benefits were the primary drivers of the increase due to investments in personnel along with significant increases in health insurance costs. From the prior quarter non-interest expenses declined $1.0 million due to a decrease in salaries and benefits of $424,000 and a true-up in low income housing losses.

The Bank's efficiency ratio was 58.9% in the first six months of 2025 as compared to 59.2% in the first six months of 2024.

Income tax expense increased from $2.6 million to $2.9 million. The Bank received full credit from its application for the Employee Tax Retention Credit in 2025. Along with the full principal payment the IRS paid interest on the Bank's overpayment of payroll taxes. Interest of $603,000 reduced the Bank's income tax expense. In 2024, $349,000 was reduced from income tax expense during tax provision calculations related to 2023 income tax expense.

About Cashmere Valley Bank

Cashmere Valley Bank was established September 24, 1932 and now has 11 retail offices in Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas and Yakima Counties and a municipal lending office in King County. The Bank provides business and personal banking, commercial lending, insurance services through its subsidiary Mitchell, Reed & Schmitten Insurance, investment services, mortgage services, equipment lease financing, auto and marine dealer financing and municipal lending. The success of Cashmere Valley Bank is the result of maintaining a high level of personal service and controlling expenses so our fees and charges offer our customers the best value available. We remain committed to those principles that we feel are best summarized as, "the little Bank with the big circle of friends."

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations regarding economic, legislative, and regulatory issues that may impact the Bank's earnings in future periods. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "anticipate," "estimate," "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may." Factors that could cause future results to vary materially from current management expectations include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, economic uncertainty in the United States and abroad, changes in interest rates, deposit flows, real estate values, costs or effects of acquisitions, competition, changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines, legislation or regulation, and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting the Bank's operations. The Bank undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Greg Oakes, CEO, (509) 782-2092 or
Mike Lundstrom, CFO, (509) 782-5495

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(UNAUDITED)

Quarterly Consolidated Statements of Income
(UNAUDITED)

Year-to-Date Consolidated Statements of Income
(UNAUDITED)

SOURCE: Cashmere Valley Bank

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

T.Sanchez--AT