Business
Westamerica Bancorporation Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results
SAN RAFAEL, Calif., July 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westamerica Bancorporation (Nasdaq: WABC), parent company of Westamerica Bank, generated net income for
About this update from Westamerica Bancorporation
[{"type":"text","content":"SAN RAFAEL, Calif., July 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Westamerica Bancorporation (Nasdaq: WABC), parent company of Westamerica Bank, generated net income for the second quarter 2024 of $35.5 million and diluted earnings per common share (\"EPS\") of $1.33. Second quarter 2024 results compare to first quarter 2024 net income of $36.4 million and EPS of $1.37. \"Westamerica’s second quarter 2024 results benefited from the Company’s low-cost operating principles. The annualized cost of funding our interest-earning loans, bonds and cash was 0.35 percent for the second quarter 2024. The Company recognized no provision for credit losses due to $73 thousand of net loan recoveries in the second quarter 2024 and $1.6 million in nonperforming loans at June 30, 2024, while the allowance for credit losses on loans was $16.0 million at June 30, 2024. Westamerica operated efficiently, spending 35 percent of its revenue on operating costs in the second quarter 2024”, said Chairman, President and CEO David Payne. “Second quarter 2024 results generated an annualized 14.4 percent return on average common equity. Shareholders were paid a $0.44 per common share dividend during the second quarter 2024,” concluded Payne. Net interest income on a fully-taxable equivalent (FTE) basis was $64.1 million for the second quarter 2024, compared to $66.1 million for the first quarter 2024. The annualized yield earned on loans, bonds and cash for the second quarter 2024 was 4.50 percent, unchanged from the first quarter 2024. The annualized cost of funding the loan and bond portfolios was 0.35 percent for the second quarter 2024, compared to 0.20 percent for the first quarter 2024. The Company provided no provision for credit losses in the second quarter 2024 compared to $300 thousand in the first quarter 2024. The Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans was $16.0 million at June 30, 2024 compared to $15.9 million at March 31, 2024. Noninterest income for the second quarter 2024 totaled $10.5 million compared to $10.1 million for the first quarter 2024; the increase is attributable to higher merchant processing fees and higher debit card fees. Noninterest expenses were $26.1 million for the second quarter 2024 and the first quarter 2024. The income tax rate on a fully-taxable equivalent basis was 26.8 percent for the second quarter 2024 compared to 26.9 percent f...