BayFirst Financial Q1 2025 Earnings Report

BayFirst Financial EPS Results

• Actual EPS: -$0.17
• Consensus EPS: N/A
• Beat/Miss: N/A
• One Year Ago EPS: N/A

BayFirst Financial Revenue Results

• Actual Revenue: $19.75 million
• Expected Revenue: N/A
• Beat/Miss: N/A
• YoY Revenue Growth: N/A

BayFirst Financial Announcement Details

• Quarter: Q1 2025
• Date: 4/24/2025
• Time: After Market Closes
• Conference Call Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
• Conference Call Time: 9:00AM ET

BayFirst Financial (NASDAQ:BAFN) is a bank holding company headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. Through its subsidiary, BayFirst National Bank, the company provides banking and financial services to individuals, families, businesses and nonprofit organizations.

BayFirst National Bank offers deposit products, consumer and commercial lending, business banking, treasury management and other traditional community-banking services. Its lending activities include commercial real estate, commercial and industrial loans, residential mortgage lending and Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. The bank also operates mortgage banking and SBA lending platforms in addition to its community banking business.

The company primarily serves customers in the Tampa Bay region and other areas of Florida through banking offices and specialized lending operations. The bank previously operated under the name First Home Bank before adopting the BayFirst National Bank name as part of its broader expansion beyond residential mortgage banking. BayFirst Financial is led by President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony Leo.

BayFirst Financial Q1 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways

• Net loss of $335,000 in Q1 driven by higher provision expenses and fair-value loan write-downs, versus net income of $9.8 million in Q4.
• Net interest margin rose 17 basis points to 3.77%, fueled by growth in lower-rate checking balances and runoff of high-rate CDs.
• Loans held for investment grew by $18 million (1.7%) and noninterest and transaction deposits increased, supporting the bank’s community banking focus.
• Nonperforming assets increased to 1.94% amid stressed cash flows for small-business SBA loans, leading to elevated loss rates and an express modification program.
• Board launched a strategic review to de-risk the balance sheet, bolster credit risk management, and expand product offerings like lockbox services.

Presentation

[Operator]

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to BayFirst Financial Corporation Q1 2025 conference call and webcast. At this time, note that all participant lines are in the listen-only mode. Following the presentation, we will conduct a question-and-answer session, and if at any time during this call you require immediate assistance, please press star zero for the operator. Also note that this call is being recorded on Friday, April 25th, 2025. I would now like to turn the conference over to Tom Zernick, CEO. Please go ahead, sir.

[Tom Zernick, CEO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Thank you, Sylvie. Good morning, and thank you for participating on our call today. Once again, with me is Robin Oliver, our President and Chief Operating Officer, and Scott McKim, our Chief Financial Officer. Today's call will include forward-looking statements and non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to our cautionary statement on forward-looking statements contained on page two of the investor presentation. We reported a net loss this quarter of $335,000 driven by a couple of challenges, most notably higher provision expense and higher write-downs on our portfolio of loans measured at fair value. Businesses are experiencing slowing demand for products and services, along with a sustained higher interest rate environment and rising inflation, which has created stressed cash flows for many small businesses.

[Tom Zernick, CEO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

In addition, past and present macroeconomic conditions are fueling uncertainty and concern among business owners across the nation, which resulted in lower loan demand than expected during the first quarter. We will elaborate more on this in a few minutes, but first, I want to talk about some areas that are performing well in the first quarter and activities that set the stage for future growth. Our net interest margin improved again in the first quarter, an increase of 17 basis points to 3.77%. Fueling this improvement was growth in interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing checking account balances during the quarter, while we allowed some runoff in high-rate CDs and promotional-priced money market balances. Our business banking, healthcare banking, and treasury management teams are fully staffed and gaining traction, which will help to continue growing lower-rate transactional deposits.

[Tom Zernick, CEO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

In fact, the total number of checking accounts increased 2% during the first quarter and 12% over the past year. On the lending side, BayFirst continues to enjoy minimal commercial exposure in the CRE space, with non-owner-occupied CRE representing only 9.4% of our loans held for investment at the end of the quarter. Loans held for investment increased by $18 million, or 2% during the first quarter. The bank has continued to see consistent growth in community bank loans and core deposits. This growth will continue to position BayFirst as the premier community bank of Tampa Bay. The company's government-guaranteed loan origination platform originated $106.3 million in new loans during the first quarter of 2025, of which $60.5 million were Bolt loans, which is the company's SBA 7(a) loan product designed to expeditiously provide working capital of $150,000 or less.

[Tom Zernick, CEO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

The origination volume was relatively stable from the prior quarter, down slightly from $107.8 million of loans produced in Q4 2024, of which $64.9 million were Bolt loans. Although origination volume was relatively unchanged, the production totals fell below our targeted expectations, contributing negatively to our results for the quarter. As I mentioned previously, there continues to be stress among small businesses based on the economic environment over the past three years, and as a result, many of our small business borrowers, particularly those in the SBA Small Loan Program, have struggled to make payments. As we've reported previously, this led to our Express Modification Program launching in Q2 of 2024, which has been offered to 581 borrowers. While this program helped many small businesses with their debt burden, we are still experiencing higher-than-historical loan loss rates.

[Tom Zernick, CEO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Although there is great momentum and opportunity for many of our products and services, based on the aforementioned challenges, leadership in the board is initiating a comprehensive strategic review aimed at de-risking the balance sheet and positioning the company for long-term growth and enhanced shareholder value. Now, I will pass the microphone to Scott McKim, our CFO, to provide an overview of our financial performance.

[Scott McKim, CFO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Thank you, Tom. Good morning, everyone. As Tom mentioned, we are reporting a net loss of $335,000 from continuing operations in the first quarter. This compares to net income of $9.8 million in the fourth quarter last year. As a reminder, excluding the gain from our sale leaseback, fourth quarter net income was $1.1 million. During the first quarter, balances of loans held for investment grew $18.3 million, or 1.7%, during the quarter, and overall total assets increased $3.7 million to $1.29 billion, or 0.3% during the quarter. Since March 31st, 2024, total assets have increased $147.8 million, or 12.9%. While total deposits decreased $15 million, or 1.3%, during the first quarter of this year, we did have increases of $4.5 million and $4.3 million in non-interest-bearing deposit accounts and lower-rate interest-bearing transaction accounts, respectively. Total deposits ended the quarter at $1.13 billion.

[Scott McKim, CFO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Shareholders' equity at quarter end was $110.1 million and is $9.5 million higher than the end of the first quarter of 2024. Net accumulated other comprehensive loss decreased by $578,000 during the quarter, ending at $2.4 million. Our tangible book value decreased slightly this quarter to $22.77 per share from $22.95 per share at the end of the fourth quarter. As Tom mentioned, our net interest margin improved 17 basis points to 3.77% in the first quarter. Net interest income was $11 million in the first quarter, which was up $0.3 million compared to the fourth quarter and up $2.3 million from the year-ago quarter. Our focus on checking accounts and savings accounts versus promotional-rate money market and CDs continued to provide margin expansion.

[Scott McKim, CFO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Non-interest income was $8.8 million for the first quarter of 2025, which is a decrease from $22.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and a decrease from $14.3 million in the first quarter of 2024. The decrease compared to the fourth quarter was primarily the result of the pre-tax gain on the sale of two branch office properties of $11.6 million as part of the sale leaseback transaction I previously mentioned. This real estate was sold, did add additional rent expense to our income statement, as I will mention shortly. Gains on the sale of government-guaranteed loans were also $1.1 million lower in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter due to lower production of saleable government-guaranteed loans. The bank sold $72.5 million of government-guaranteed loan balances in the first quarter compared to $94.5 million sold in the fourth quarter.

[Scott McKim, CFO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Notably, there is a $755,000 loss on government-guaranteed loans measured at fair value during the quarter. This includes $1.2 million of fair value markdowns on retained un-guaranteed SBA 7(a) balances, which are then offset by $458,000 of a fair value gain related to a single USDA loan, which was booked and measured at fair value during the first quarter. I will note that these fair value markdowns are not charge-offs according to GAAP rules, but they are very similar nonetheless. Furthermore, I will remind you the bank does not plan to measure SBA loans at fair value going forward, as we announced and discussed last quarter. Non-interest expense increased by $0.5 million in the first quarter. Higher compensation costs offset by lower incentives, reflecting lower loan originations in the quarter, as I previously mentioned as well.

[Scott McKim, CFO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Higher occupancy and equipment costs reflect the maintenance and repair costs, as well as the rent expense on the two branches that we sold in the fourth quarter. Marketing, recruiting, and development and collection costs were also lower than the fourth quarter of 2024. Provision for credit losses was $4.4 million in the first quarter compared to $4.5 million in the fourth quarter and $4 million in the first quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs, primarily from unguaranteed SBA 7(a) balances, were flat compared to the fourth quarter at $3.3 million. Annualized net charge-offs as a percentage of loans held for investment at amortized costs were 1.28% in the first quarter, down from 1.34% in the fourth quarter and down from 1.71% in the first quarter of 2024. Loans past due, 30-89 days, increased quarter-over-quarter.

[Scott McKim, CFO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Non-performing assets to total assets increased to 1.94% as of March 31st, 2025. That compares to 1.47% as of December 31st, 2024, and 0.98% as of March 31st, 2024, with the increase this quarter largely being driven by larger, very well-collateralized loans. The ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans held for investment at amortized cost was also higher at the end of the first quarter compared to last quarter at 1.61% on March 31st, 2025, compared to 1.54% as of December 31st, 2024, and 1.62% as of March 31st, 2024. Our portfolio of unsecured consumer loans purchased from a third party generated $285,000 in net charge-offs during the quarter, which was down about $100,000 from the fourth quarter. At this time, I will turn the call over to Robin for some additional comments.

[Robin Oliver, President and COO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Thank you, Scott. Good morning, everyone. I'd like to elaborate further on how we are working to improve the credit quality of our SBA 7(a) small loans. As a reminder, for many of our SBA borrowers whose loans were originated prior to the historic rise in interest rates, which began in 2022, their payments have almost doubled since the loans are variable rate adjusting quarterly. Most of those loans have 10-year terms and are now becoming more seasoned, and wherever possible, we have granted a modification for those borrowers who are struggling to extend their maturity and lower their payment. For our Bolt loan product, which launched in June of 2022, many of those loans were originated in a higher interest rate environment, and throughout the program, we have continually revised the credit underwriting parameters to ensure we are prudent in our credit decisions.

[Robin Oliver, President and COO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

For example, we enhanced credit parameters in March 2024 and have thus far seen a much lower early default rate for loans originated after that date as compared to prior vintages of loans. In addition, we further strengthened our analysis of bank statements starting this month based on additional data analysis we've collected over the life of the program now that the portfolio is seasoning. All of these steps are designed to improve credit quality while still serving the needs of borrowers who otherwise would not have access to credit. In addition, we are continuing to build a robust team of credit administration and portfolio management. In January 2025, we announced the addition of a new Chief Credit Officer, and I'm pleased to announce that a Director of Credit Administration was also added to the team in February 2025.

[Robin Oliver, President and COO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

We are focused on enhancing our credit risk management and oversight to ensure we have the right resources to manage our growing portfolio. Outside of SBA lending, our conventional loan portfolio continues to have strong asset quality metrics and yields as we continue to grow both our commercial and consumer portfolios at a steady pace, with a new niche we announced last year in healthcare lending. Since March 31, 2024, a year ago, the conventional loan portfolio has grown by $140 million, or 26%, and represents $686 million of our loan portfolio at quarter end. Also, beginning in the first quarter, we expanded our treasury product set to include lockbox services not only for healthcare companies but also for homeowners associations, which are plentiful in Tampa Bay. Association banking is another niche industry where we believe we can grow and expand both core deposits and loans.

[Robin Oliver, President and COO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Ultimately, we serve a broad community of small businesses, individuals, and families, and as proven by being named Forbes 2024 Best Bank in Florida as voted on by customers, we have built an outstanding community and customer-focused organization. At this time, I will turn it back to Tom for his final thoughts.

[Tom Zernick, CEO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

Hey, thanks, Robin. Our board of directors and leadership team are committed to driving resilience and innovation as we position the company for long-term success and enhanced shareholder value. We are confident that these efforts will better align the company and our bank with the demands of a dynamic banking landscape.

[Robin Oliver, President and COO at BayFirst Financial Corporation]

At this time, we'd like to entertain questions.

[Operator]

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, if you do have any questions at this time, please press star followed by one on a touch-tone phone. You will then hear a prompt that your hand has been raised. Should you wish to decline from the polling process, please press star followed by two. If you are using a speakerphone, you will need to lift the handset first before pressing any keys. Please go ahead and press star one now if you do have any questions. At this time, it appears we have no questions, which will conclude our conference call for today. Once again, we would like to thank you for attending and ask that you please disconnect your lines. Have a good weekend.

Participants

Executives

• Tom Zernick, CEO
• Robin Oliver, President and COO
• Scott McKim, CFO