HERITAGE FINANCIAL ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND ANNUAL 2024 RESULTS AND DECLARES REGULAR CASH DIVIDEND OF $0.24 PER SHARE

In addition, the Company restructured its bank owned life insurance ("BOLI") portfolio during the fourth quarter of 2024, incurring additional tax expense related to the sale of BOLI of $2.4 million and other costs totaling $508,000 included in BOLI income which decreased diluted earnings per share by $0.08 for the quarter.

Jeff Deuel, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "We are very pleased with our operating results for the fourth quarter, which included strong loan growth, margin expansion and lower cost of deposits. In addition to an increase in net interest margin, we also saw an increase in net interest income for the second consecutive quarter.  We continue to strategically reposition our balance sheet to improve future profitability.  Although these actions reduce reported earnings, we are seeing the benefits to our core earnings and we are optimistic that the combination of our strong balance sheet and prudent risk management will provide sustainable long-term returns for our shareholders."

Financial Highlights

The following table provides financial highlights at the dates and for the periods indicated:

Balance Sheet

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $58.5 million, or 33.3%, to $117.1 million at December 31, 2024 from $175.6 million at September 30, 2024 primarily due to an increase in loans.

Total investment securities decreased $104.5 million, or 6.6%, to $1.47 billion at December 31, 2024 from $1.57 billion at September 30, 2024. As previously noted, the Company sold $35.6 million of investment securities at a pre-tax loss of $3.9 million as part of its strategic balance sheet repositioning. In addition, there were investment maturities and repayments of $54.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2024 and a $15.0 million increase in unrealized losses on available for sale securities, due primarily to changes in market rates.

The following table summarizes the composition of the Company's investment securities portfolio at the dates indicated:

Loans receivable increased $122.6 million, or 2.6%, to $4.80 billion at December 31, 2024 from $4.68 billion at September 30, 2024. New loans funded in the fourth quarter and third quarter of 2024 totaled $181.0 million and $176.9 million, respectively. Loan prepayments were similar to the prior quarter at $44.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2024, compared to $44.8 million during the prior quarter.

Commercial and industrial loans increased $18.5 million, or 2.2%, due primarily to new loan production of $56.3 million during the quarter, offset by pay downs on outstanding balances. Owner-occupied commercial real estate ("CRE") loans increased $16.2 million, or 1.6%, due primarily to new loan production of $32.0 million during the quarter, offset partially by pay downs on outstanding balances. Non-owner occupied CRE loans increased $73.5 million, or 4.0%, due primarily to new loan production of $74.7 million during the quarter and the transfer of $22.3 million of commercial and multifamily construction loans upon completion of construction. Commercial and multifamily construction loans increased $17.2 million or 4.6% due primarily to advances on outstanding commitments.

The following table summarizes the Company's loans receivable, net at the dates indicated:

Total deposits decreased $23.9 million, or 0.4%, to $5.68 billion at December 31, 2024 from $5.71 billion at September 30, 2024. Non-maturity deposits decreased by $55.6 million, or 1.2%, from September 30, 2024 due primarily to customers moving balances to higher yielding accounts. Certificates of deposit increased $31.7 million, or 3.4%, to $977.3 million at December 31, 2024 from $945.6 million at September 30, 2024, primarily due to new accounts opened during the quarter offset partially by a decrease of $25.0 million in brokered certificates of deposit. Average total deposits increased $39.7 million to $5.72 billion for the fourth quarter of 2024, from $5.68 billion for the third quarter of 2024.

The following table summarizes the Company's total deposits at the dates indicated:

Total borrowings increased $1.0 million to $383.0 million at December 31, 2024 from $382.0 million at September 30, 2024. Average borrowings decreased $78.9 million to $373.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, from $452.4 million for the third quarter of 2024. Borrowings of $100.0 million from the Bank Term Funding Program were paid off during the quarter. All outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2024 are with the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") and mature within one year.

Total stockholders' equity decreased $11.0 million, or 1.3%, to $863.5 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $874.5 million at September 30, 2024 due primarily to a $11.7 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss as a result of changes in market rates, $8.0 million in dividends paid to common shareholders and $4.4 million in common stock repurchases, offset partially by $11.9 million of net income recognized for the quarter.

The Company and Bank continued to maintain capital levels in excess of the applicable regulatory requirements for them both to be categorized as "well-capitalized" at December 31, 2024.

The following table summarizes the capital ratios for the Company at the dates indicated:

Allowance for Credit Losses and Provision for Credit Losses

The allowance for credit losses ("ACL") on loans as a percentage of loans receivable was 1.09% at December 31, 2024 compared to 1.10% at September 30, 2024. During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company recorded a $1.1 million provision for credit losses on loans, compared to a $2.7 million provision for credit losses on loans during the third quarter of 2024. The provision for credit losses on loans during the quarter was due primarily to loan growth. Net charge-offs for the fourth quarter of 2024 were $27,000.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company recorded a $79,000 provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments compared to a $266,000 reversal of the provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments during the third quarter of 2024. The provision for credit losses on unfunded commitments during the fourth quarter of 2024 was due primarily to an increase in the unfunded exposure on loans.

The following table provides detail on the changes in the ACL on loans and the ACL on unfunded commitments, and the related provision for (reversal of) credit losses for the periods indicated:

Credit Quality

The percentage of classified loans to loans receivable improved to 1.4% at December 31, 2024 compared to 1.5% at September 30, 2024. Classified loans include loans rated substandard or worse. The decrease was due primarily to payoffs and principal payments on substandard loans. Total loans designated as special mention increased by $11.6 million to $110.7 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $99.1 million at September 30, 2024.

The following table illustrates total loans by risk rating and their respective percentage of total loans at the dates indicated:

Nonaccrual loans to loans receivable were 0.08% and 0.09% at December 31, 2024 and September 30, 2024, respectively. Changes in nonaccrual loans during the periods indicated were as follows:

Liquidity

Total liquidity sources available at December 31, 2024 were $2.34 billion. This includes on- and off-balance sheet liquidity. The Company has access to FHLB advances and the Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB") Discount Window. The Company's available liquidity sources at December 31, 2024 represented a coverage ratio of 41.2% of total deposits and 103.1% of estimated uninsured deposits.

The following table summarizes the Company's available liquidity:

Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income increased $0.8 million, or 1.5%, during the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the third quarter of 2024, due primarily to a $1.7 million decrease in interest expense, offset partially by a $0.9 million decrease in interest income. Net interest margin increased six basis points to 3.39% during the fourth quarter of 2024 from 3.33% during the third quarter of 2024.

The yield on interest earning assets decreased 5 basis points to 4.97% for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 5.02% for the third quarter of 2024. The yield on loans receivable, net, decreased 7 basis points to 5.53% during the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 5.60% during the third quarter of 2024 as loans indexed to Prime or SOFR repriced at lower rates due to reductions in the federal funds rate.

The cost of interest bearing deposits decreased 4 basis points to 1.98% for the fourth quarter of 2024 from 2.02% for the third quarter of 2024. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in deposit rates during the quarter.

Net interest income decreased $0.8 million, or 0.2%, during the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 and the net interest margin decreased 2 basis points to 3.39% from 3.41% during this same period. The decrease was due primarily to an increase in interest expense resulting from increased deposit rates and borrowing expense, partially offset by an increase in yields earned on interest earning assets following increases in market interest rates.

The following table provides relevant net interest income information for the periods indicated:

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income increased $1.5 million to $3.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2024 from $1.8 million during the third quarter of 2024. The increase was due primarily to the decrease in loss resulting from the above-referenced sale of investment securities recognized in the fourth quarter of 2024 as part of the strategic repositioning of the balance sheet, compared to the loss recognized in the prior quarter in connection with the prior balance sheet repositioning transaction.  The increase was partially offset by a decrease in gain on sale of other assets, net which was due to the $1.5 million gain on sale of an administrative building recognized during the third quarter of 2024.

Noninterest income increased $6.4 million from the same period in 2023 due primarily to the decrease in loss resulting from the above-referenced sale of investment securities recognized in the fourth quarter of 2024 as part of the strategic repositioning of the balance sheet, compared to the loss recognized in the same quarter in 2023 in connection with the prior balance sheet repositioning transaction.

The following table presents the key components of noninterest income and the change for the periods indicated:

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense increased $0.3 million, or 0.6%, during the fourth quarter of 2024 from the third quarter of 2024. Marketing expense and professional services expense increased compared to the prior quarter, primarily due to timing of services performed.

Noninterest expense decreased $3.2 million, or 7.5%, during the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Compensation and employee benefit expense decreased primarily to a decrease in full-time equivalent employees to 751 at December 31, 2024 from 803 at December 31, 2023. Data processing expense decreased due primarily to an accrual for the early termination of a technology-related contract expensed in the fourth quarter of 2023. Marketing expenses decreased due to the timing of services performed. Professional services decreased due primarily to a $1.5 million expense related to renewal of the core vendor contract during the fourth quarter of 2023. State/municipal business and use taxes increased primarily due to an increase in total revenue.

The following table presents the key components of noninterest expense and the change for the periods indicated:

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense increased $2.8 million during the fourth quarter of 2024 to $4.4 million compared to $1.6 million for the third quarter of 2024. The increase in income tax expense during the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the prior quarter was primarily due to the above-referenced additional tax expense of $2.4 million related to the BOLI restructuring during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Income tax expense increased $4.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to same period in 2023 due to higher pre-tax income during the fourth quarter of 2024 and the additional tax expense of $2.4 million related to the BOLI restructuring during the fourth quarter of 2024.

The following table presents the income tax expense and related metrics and the change for the periods indicated:

Dividends

On January 22, 2025, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share. The dividend is payable on February 20, 2025 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 6, 2025.

Earnings Conference Call

The Company will hold a telephone conference call to discuss this earnings release on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific time. To access the call, please dial (833) 470-1428 -- access code 817868 a few minutes prior to 10:00 a.m. Pacific time. The call will be available for replay through January 30, 2025 by dialing (866) 813-9403 -- access code 202025.

About Heritage Financial Corporation

Heritage Financial Corporation is an Olympia, Washington-based bank holding company with Heritage Bank, a full-service commercial bank, as its sole wholly-owned banking subsidiary. Heritage Bank has a branch network of 50 banking offices in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Heritage Bank does business under the Whidbey Island Bank name on Whidbey Island, Washington. The Company's stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "HFWA." More information about Heritage Financial Corporation can be found on its website at www.hf-wa.com and more information about Heritage Bank can be found on its website at www.heritagebanknw.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements often include words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "targets," "potentially," "probably," "projects," "outlook" or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would," and "could," as well as the negative of such words. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent management's current expectations and forecasts regarding future events, many of which are inherently uncertain and outside of our control. Actual results may differ, possibly materially, from those currently expected or projected in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: potential adverse impacts to economic conditions nationally or in our local market areas, other markets where we have lending relationships, or other aspects of our business operations or financial markets including, without limitation, as a result of credit quality deterioration, pronounced and sustained reductions in real estate market values, employment levels, and labor shortages, a potential recession or slowed economic growth; changes in the interest rate environment which could adversely affect our revenues and expenses, the value of assets and obligations, and the availability and cost of capital and liquidity; the level and impact of inflation and the current and future monetary policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in response thereto; legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business, including changes in banking, securities, and tax law, in regulatory policies and principles, or the interpretation and prioritization of regulatory capital or other rules; effects on the U.S. economy resulting from the implementation of policies proposed by the new presidential administration, including tariffs, mass deportations and tax regulations; credit and interest rate risks associated with our business, customers, borrowings, repayment, investment, and deposit practices; fluctuations in deposits and deposit concentrations; liquidity issues, including our ability to borrow funds or raise additional capital, if necessary; fluctuations in the value of our investment securities; credit risks and risks from concentrations (by type of geographic area, collateral and industry) within our loan portfolio; disruptions, security breaches, insider fraud, cybersecurity incidents or other adverse events, failures or interruptions in, or attacks on, our information technology systems or on the third-party vendors who perform our critical processing functions for our business, including sophisticated attacks using artificial intelligence and similar tools; rapid technological change in the financial services industry; increased competition in the financial services industry from non-banks such as credit unions and Fintech companies, including digital asset service providers; our ability to adapt successfully to technological changes to compete effectively in the marketplace, including as a result of competition from other commercial banks, mortgage banking firms, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, and Fintech companies; effects of critical accounting policies and judgments, including the use of estimates in determining the fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant declines in valuation; the commencement, costs, effects and outcome of litigation and other legal proceedings and regulatory actions against us or to which we may become subject; the effects of climate change, severe weather events, natural disasters, pandemics, epidemics and other public health crises, acts of war or terrorism, and other external events on our business and the businesses of our clients; the impact of bank failures or adverse developments at other banks and related negative publicity about the banking industry in general on investor and depositor sentiment regarding the stability and liquidity of banks; our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing items; and other factors described in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") which are available on our website at www.hf-wa.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Moreover, any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this press release or the documents we file with or furnish to the SEC are based only on information then actually known to us and upon management's beliefs and assumptions at the time they are made which may turn out to be wrong because of inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors described above or because of other factors that we cannot foresee. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements.