Business
Eagle Bancorp Montana Earns $5.2 Million, or $0.76 per Diluted Share, in Fourth Quarter 2020; Reports Record Earnings of $21.2 Million, or $3.11 per Diluted Share for the Year 2020; Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend of $0.0975 per Share
HELENA, Mont., Jan. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBMT), (the “Company,” “Eagle”), the holding company of Opportunity Bank
About this update from Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"HELENA, Mont., Jan. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (NASDAQ: EBMT), (the “Company,” “Eagle”), the holding company of Opportunity Bank of Montana, today reported net income in the fourth quarter of 2020 increased 121.0% to $5.2 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared to $2.3 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter a year ago, reflecting the high level of contributions from mortgage banking and gains from sale of loans. Net income was a record $6.4 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2020. For the year 2020, net income nearly doubled to a record $21.2 million, or $3.11 per diluted share, compared to $10.9 million, or $1.69 per diluted share, for 2019. Eagle’s board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0975 per share on January 21, 2021. The dividend will be payable March 5, 2021 to shareholders of record February 12, 2021. The current annualized dividend yield is 1.75% based on recent market prices. “We had a strong fourth quarter and record earnings for the year, with net interest income expansion, record loan production and solid deposit growth,” said Peter J. Johnson, President and CEO. “While our fourth quarter operating performance was strong, we continued to see the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on our Montana communities. We actively participated in the SBA’s initial Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that expired in August, helping service the needs of our customers, and we plan to support the SBA’s new round of PPP funding to help our clients whose businesses have been hardest hit by the pandemic. Earlier in the year, the Montana Board of Investments (MBOI) offered 12-months of interest payment assistance to qualified borrowers. We are closely monitoring borrowers and businesses in our communities and are providing debt service relief for those who have been impacted.” COVID-19 Preparations as of December 31, 2020: Industry Exposure: Eagle’s exposure, as a percentage of total loans, to some of the industries with business revenues dramatically impacted by the pandemic includes health care and social assistance (2.64%), hotels and lodging (4.14%), bars and restaurants (2.58%), casinos (1.19%), and nursing homes (0.47%).Loan Accommodations: The bank has offered multiple accommodation options to its clients,...