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Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2025 Results and 17% Increase in Quarterly Cash Dividend

OAK RIDGE, N.C., May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. (鈥淥ak Ridge鈥�; or the 鈥淐ompany鈥�) (OTCPink: BKOR), the parent company of Bank of Oak Ridge (the 鈥淏ank鈥�), announced unaudited financial results for the first three months of 2025 and an increase of $0.02, or 17%, in its quarterly cash dividend to $0.14 per common share.

First Quarter 2025 Highlights

• Earnings per share were $0.57, up from $0.56 in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $0.50 in the first quarter of 2024.
• Return on equity of 10.04%, compared to 9.63% for the prior quarter and 9.31% for the first quarter of 2024.
• Net Income was $1.6 million, up from $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2024.
• Tangible book value per common share of $23.50 as of period end, compared to $23.02 at the end of the prior quarter, and $21.80 at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
• Dividends declared per common share of $0.14, up 17% from $0.12 for the prior quarter and the first quarter of 2024.
• Net interest margin was 3.97%, increasing from 3.92% in the fourth quarter of 2024 and from 3.79% in the first quarter of 2024, representing a sequential increase of 5 basis points and a year-over-year increase of 18 basis points.
• Efficiency ratio of 66.8%, compared to 64.6% for the prior quarter and 68.3% for the first quarter of 2024.
• Loans receivable of $528.5 million at quarter end, up 11.7% (annualized) from $514.3 million as of the prior quarter end, up 10.7% from $477.4 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
• Nonperforming assets to total assets of 0.67% at quarter end, compared to 0.44% as of the prior quarter end and 0.07% at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
• Nonperforming assets were $4.6 million at quarter end, compared to $3.5 million as of the prior quarter-end and $461,000 as of the prior year quarter end. $4.0 million of the $4.1 million increase in nonperforming assets from the prior year quarter-end to the current quarter end is due to the guaranteed and nonguaranteed balances of eight Small Business Administration (鈥淪BA鈥�) 7(a) loans that moved to nonaccrual status during the third and fourth quarters of 2024, and the first quarter of 2025. The balances as of March 31, 2025, of SBA nonperforming loans guaranteed and unguaranteed by the SBA were $3.1 million and $858,000, respectively.
• Securities available-for-sale and held-to maturity of $98.9 million at quarter end, representing an annualized decrease of 21.1% from $104.4 million at the prior quarter end, and a decrease of 8.3% from $107.8 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
• Total deposits of $542.5 million at quarter end, representing annualized growth of 8.6% from $531.3 million at the prior quarter end, and an increase of 9.2% from $496.9 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
• Total short and long-term borrowings, junior subordinated notes, and subordinated debentures of $59.7 million at quarter end, representing an annualized increase of 10.5% from $58.2 million at the prior quarter end, and a decrease of 7.0% from $64.2 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
• Total stockholders鈥� equity of $64.3 million at quarter end, up 8.6% (annualized) from $63.0 million as of the prior quarter end, up 8.0% from $59.6 million at the end of the first quarter of 2024.
• On March 31, 2025, the Bank鈥檚 Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) was 11.1%, up slightly from 11.0% on December 31, 2024. A bank or savings institution electing to use the CBLR will generally be considered well-capitalized and to have met the risk-based and leverage capital requirements of the capital regulations if it has a leverage ratio greater than 9.0%.
  

We are pleased to report a strong start to 2025, marked by solid financial performance and a significant 17% increase in our quarterly cash dividend to $0.14 per share. Our first quarter earnings demonstrated positive momentum, showing improvement both sequentially from the fourth quarter of 2024 and year-over-year. We continued to experience healthy loan growth, achieving a double-digit annualized rate, supported by a robust deposit base and strategic use of borrowings. While we noted a manageable increase in nonperforming assets predominantly related to specific SBA loans, our overall asset quality remains sound, and our net interest margin strengthened during the quarter. Our capital and liquidity positions remain robust, providing a strong foundation for continued growth and the ability to deliver enhanced value to our shareholders. At Oak Ridge, our commitment to building strong client relationships through tailored financial solutions remains paramount, and we appreciate the dedication of our team in consistently serving our customers and managing the Bank effectively.

The $0.02, or 17% increase in the Company鈥檚 quarterly cash dividend to $0.14 per share of common stock will be paid on June 9, 2025, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 23, 2025. 鈥淲e are proud of our record of regularly increasing our quarterly cash dividend to our stockholders,鈥� said Mr. Wayne. 鈥淧aying stockholders a portion of our earnings reflects our continuing commitment to enhance stockholder value.鈥�

For the three months ending March 31, 2025 and 2024, net interest income was $6.3 million and $5.6 million, respectively. For the three months ending March 31, 2025, the net interest margin increased 18 basis points to 3.97%, compared to 3.79% for the three months ending March 31, 2024.

For the three months ending March 31, 2025, the Company recorded a provision for credit losses of $304,000, compared to a provision for credit losses of $264,000 in the same period in 2024. The allowance for credit losses as a percentage of total loans was 1.05% and 1.03% on March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. As highlighted earlier, nonperforming assets increased during the quarter and represented 0.67% of total assets on March 31, 2025, compared to 0.07% on March 31, 2024. The recorded balances of nonperforming loans were $4.6 million on March 31, 2025, compared to $461,000 on March 31, 2024. The $4.1 million increase in nonperforming loans from March 31, 2024 to March 31, 2025, was primarily attributable to eight SBA 7(a) loans totaling $4.0 million moving to nonaccrual status during the third and fourth quarters of 2024, and the first quarter of 2025, of which $3.1 million is guaranteed by the SBA. The SBA loans are also secured by real estate and personal guarantees.

Noninterest income experienced a decrease from $918,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $784,000 for the comparable period in 2025. This net decrease of $134,000 was driven by offsetting trends within its components. A significant increase was observed in service charges on deposit accounts, which rose from $628,000 in the first quarter of 2024 to $836,000 in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to the implementation of a new deposit account fee in 2024. Conversely, income from Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) investments decreased. The Company recorded $209,000 in income from these investments during the three months ended March 31, 2024, but recognized no comparable income in the same period of 2025 due to no income distributions received.

Noninterest expense increased from $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, to $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, representing a net increase of $400,000. Several categories contributed significantly to this rise. Salaries increased by $188,000 to $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, up from $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to higher salaries and incentive payments. Employee benefits also saw an increase of $100,000, rising to $370,000 in the first quarter of 2025 from $270,000 in the corresponding 2024 period, mainly due to increased expenses related to the Bank鈥檚 employee stock ownership plan and overall employee benefits. Occupancy expenses rose by $47,000 to $321,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared to $274,000 in 2024, largely due to higher property maintenance costs. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease in equipment expense of $80,000, falling to $134,000 in the first quarter of 2025 from $214,000 in the same period of 2024, primarily due to lower equipment depreciation expense. Data and items processing expense also increased by $108,000 to $602,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2025, up from $494,000 in 2024, mainly due to higher software licensing fees paid to the Bank鈥檚 core processing vendor.

About Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc., and Bank of Oak Ridge
At Bank of Oak Ridge, we pride ourselves on knowing your name when you walk through our door. Whether in-person or through our digital offerings, managing your financial well-being is easy, safe, and convenient. We are the longest-running employee-owned community bank in the Triad and have served community members, local businesses, and non-profit organizations since 2000. Learn more about what makes Bank of Oak Ridge the Triad鈥檚 community bank by visiting one of our convenient locations in Greensboro, High Point, Summerfield, and Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge Financial Services, Inc. (OTC Pink: BKOR) is the holding company for Bank of Oak Ridge. Bank of Oak Ridge is a member of the FDIC and an Equal Housing Lender.

Awards & Recognitions | Best Bank in the Triad | Triad鈥檚 Top Workplace Finalist | 2016 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Business Ethics | Triad鈥檚 Healthiest Employer Winner

Banking for Business & Personal | Mobile & Online Banking | Worldwide ATM | Debit, Credit + Rewards | Checking, Savings & Money Market | Loans + SBA | Mortgage | Insurance | Wealth Management

Let鈥檚 Talk | 336.644.9944 | 听| Extended Interactive Teller Machine Hours at all Triad Locations

Forward-looking Information This earnings release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of the Company and on the information available to management at the time that these disclosures were prepared. These statements can be identified by the use of the words 鈥渆xpect,鈥� 鈥渁nticipate,鈥� 鈥渆stimate鈥� and 鈥渂elieve,鈥� variations of these words and other similar expressions. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, (1) competition in the Company鈥檚 markets, (2) changes in the interest rate environment, (3) general national, regional or local economic conditions may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality and the possible impairment of collectability of loans, (4) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, (5) significant changes in the federal and state legal and regulatory environment and tax laws, and (6) the impact of changes in monetary and fiscal policies, laws, rules and regulations. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Contact: Skylar Mearing, Marketing Director
Phone: 336.662.4840