 HINGHAM, Mass., July 13, 2020 GLOBE NEWSWIRE -- HINGHAM ITUTION FOR SAVINGS NASDAQ: HIFS, Hingham, Massachusetts announced second quarter results for 2020. EarningsNet income for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 was 16,338,000 or 7.65 per share basic and 7.50 per share diluted, as compared to 8,706,000 or 4.08 per share basic and 3.99 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Banks annualized return on average equity for the second quarter of 2020 was 25.28, and the annualized return on average assets was 2.41, as compared to 15.32 and 1.37 for the same period in 2019. Net income per share diluted for the second quarter of 2020 increased by 88 over the same period in 2019. Excluding the after-tax gains and losses on securities, both realized and unrealized, core net income for the second quarter of 2020 was 10,936,000 or 5.12 per share basic and 5.03 per share diluted, as compared to 7,794,000 or 3.65 per share basic and 3.57 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Banks annualized core return on average equity for the second quarter of 2020 was 16.92, and the annualized core return on average assets was 1.61, as compared to 13.71 and 1.23 for the same period in 2019. Core net income per share diluted for the second quarter of 2020 increased by 41 over the same period in 2019.Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was 18,523,000 or 8.67 per share basic and 8.50 per share diluted, as compared to 18,530,000 or 8.69 per share basic and 8.49 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Banks annualized return on average equity for the first six months of 2020 was 14.50, and the annualized return on average assets was 1.39, as compared to 16.62 and 1.50 for the same period in 2019. Net income per share diluted for the first six months of 2020 was stable when compared to the same period in 2019.Excluding the after-tax gains on securities, both realized and unrealized, core net income for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was 19,415,000 or 9.09 per share basic and 8.91 per share diluted, as compared to 15,381,000 or 7.21 per share basic and 7.05 per share diluted for the same period last year. The Banks annualized core return on average equity for the first six months of 2020 was 15.20, and the annualized core return on average assets was 1.46, as compared to 13.80 and 1.25 for the same period in 2019. Core net income per share diluted for the first six months of 2020 increased by 26 over the same period in 2019.See page 10 for a Non-GAAP reconciliation between net income and core net income. In calculating core net income, the Bank does not make any adjustments other than those relating to after-tax gains and losses on securities, realized and unrealized.Balance SheetBalance sheet growth was strong, as total assets increased to 2.724 billion, representing 10 annualized growth year-to-date and 4 growth from June 30, 2019. Asset growth was below loan growth in both periods as the Bank continued to manage the balance sheet to minimize the carrying cost of its on-balance sheet liquidity.Net loans increased to 2.382 billion, representing 14 annualized growth year-to-date and 10 growth from June 30, 2019. Growth was concentrated in the Banks commercial real estate portfolio. The Bank participated in the Small Business Administrations Paycheck Protection Program during the quarter and originated 48 loans to a mix of new and existing customers for a total of 9.3 million. The Bank does not anticipate any additional originations under the Paycheck Protection Program and does not plan to participate in the Federal Reserves Main Street Lending Program. Total deposits, including wholesale deposits, increased to 2.054 billion at June 30, 2020, representing 26 annualized growth year-to-date and 24 growth from June 30, 2019. Total retail and business deposits increased to 1.571 billion at June 30, 2020, representing 20 annualized growth year-date and 21 growth from June 30, 2019. Non-interest bearing deposits, included in retail and business deposits, increased to 289.6 million at June 30, 2020, representing 44 annualized growth year-to-date and 27 growth from June 30, 2019. During the first six months of 2020, the Bank reallocated its wholesale funding mix between wholesale time deposits and Federal Home Loan Bank advances in order to reduce the cost of funds.Book value per share was 123.57 as of June 30, 2020, representing 14 annualized growth year-to-date and 15 growth from June 30, 2019. In addition to the increase in book value per share, the Bank has declared 2.26 in dividends per share since June 30, 2019, including a special dividend of 0.60 per share declared during the fourth quarter of 2019. Operational Performance MetricsThe net interest margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2020 increased 53 basis points to 3.15, as compared to 2.62 for the same period last year. The Bank has benefited from a sharp decline in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, including both interest-bearing retail and commercial deposits, as well as wholesale funding from the Federal Home Loan Bank, brokered time deposits and listing services time deposits. This benefit was partially offset by a decline in the yield on interest-earning assets, driven primarily by the decline in the interest on excess reserves held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and a lower yield on loans during the same period.Key credit and operational metrics remained strong in the second quarter. At June 30, 2020, non-performing assets totaled 0.24 of total assets, compared to 0.22 at December 31, 2019 and 0.02 at June 30, 2019. Non-performing loans as a percentage of the total loan portfolio totaled 0.11 at June 30, 2020, compared to 0.25 at December 31, 2019 and 0.03 at June 30, 2019. In the first quarter of 2020, the Bank foreclosed on a residential property on Nantucket and purchased it at auction for 3.6 million. This collateral secured a non-performing loan which comprised the substantial majority of non-performing assets at December 31, 2019. At June 30, 2020, the Bank owned 3.8 million in foreclosed property, consisting entirely of this property, including repairs and improvements completed by the Bank following acquisition. The Bank has listed the property located at 14 Orange Street for sale. Potential buyers are encouraged to contact our broker Ms. Gloria Grimshaw of Jordan Real Estate at 508-228-4449 extension 109 or at directly. At December 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, the Bank did not own any foreclosed property. The Bank recorded 681,000 of net charge-offs for the first six months of 2020, composed entirely of the charge-off related to the Nantucket property mentioned above, as compared to 1,000 in net charge-offs for the same period last year. The Bank is pursuing litigation against the borrowers for breach of contract and bank fraud in an attempt to collect on the deficiency owed. The Bank has litigation pending in state court with respect to this matter, including a motion for summary judgement, but the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has imposed certain tolling periods as a result of COVID-19 which have delayed our recovery efforts. At June 30, 2020, the Bank had modified 1 of the Banks total loan portfolio by number and less than 3 by dollar in response to COVID-19. The table presented on page 10 categorizes these modifications, by number and dollar volume, with respect to the residential real estate, commercial real estate and construction loan portfolios. With respect to the commercial real estate portfolio, the Bank has modified a limited number of loans from amortizing to interest-only for a limited period and has generally required the borrowers to pre-fund all interest payments for the period of modification. The Bank has not deferred interest payments on any commercial mortgages. The Bank has not modified any construction loans as a result of COVID-19. To the extent required by law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Bank has granted short-term interest-only modifications to a limited number of residential mortgage customers that have been impacted by COVID-19. The Bank has also deferred the collection of interest on 4 residential loans, with total outstanding loan balances of 504,000. One of these loans has subsequently resumed full contractual payments.The efficiency ratio was 25.28 for the second quarter of 2020, as compared to 31.10 for the same period last year. Operating expenses as a percentage of average assets fell to 0.79 in the second quarter of 2020, as compared to 0.82 for the same period last year. The Bank remains focused on reducing waste through an ongoing process of continuous improvement.Chairman Robert H. Gaughen Jr. stated, During this rapidly developing period of economic uncertainty, there may be unusual opportunities - to deploy capital on attractive terms, to develop new relationships with strong customers, to recruit talented staff, and to invest in digital tools to reduce costs and deliver more value for our customers. We plan to capitalize on these opportunities. In doing so, we remain focused on careful capital allocation, defensive underwriting and disciplined cost control - the building blocks for compounding shareholder capital through all stages of the economic cycle. These remain constant, regardless of the macroeconomic environment in which we operate.The Banks quarterly financial results are summarized in the earnings release, but shareholders are encouraged to read the Banks quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are generally available several weeks after the earnings release. 