Strong Net Income and Dividend Increase
Net income for 2024 reached $62.2 million or $2.05 per diluted share. The board approved an 8% increase in the quarterly dividend to $0.27 per share for the next dividend payment in February.
C&I Portfolio and USKC Initiative Growth
C&I portfolio increased by 16% as part of their diversification strategy, driven by the USKC initiative. The USKC loan portfolio grew by 23%, now representing 15% of the total loan portfolio.
Deposit Growth and Relationship Banking Success
Deposits grew by 2.5% in 2024, with a 4.6% increase in noninterest-bearing deposits, now accounting for 32.6% of total deposits. This reflects the success of their relationship-driven banking model.
Asset Quality and Capital Ratios
Nonperforming assets improved to 0.19%, and allowance for credit losses remained healthy at 1.12%. The preliminary common Tier 1 ratio was 12.11%, and the bank's preliminary total capital ratio was 14.43%.