UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K  

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 6, 2020

 

 

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Michigan   001-38290   38-3163775

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File No.) 

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

One Towne Square, Suite 1900

Southfield, Michigan 48076

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (248) 355-2400 

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each
class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock SBT Nasdaq Capital Market

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company x

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. x

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On October 6, 2020, Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its updated financial results for the year ended December 31, 2019.  The press release is attached as Exhibit No. 99 and is incorporated herein by reference.  This report and the exhibit are furnished to, and not filed with, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

On October 6, 2020, the Company announced that the audit of its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 has been completed and the Company has filed its 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC. 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K includes forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as will,” “propose,” “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “could,” “would,” “should” or similar terminology, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors (many of which are beyond our control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following: the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events that may be subject to circumstances beyond our control; increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in deposit flows, loan demand or collateral values; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which we do business, or conditions in the real estate, securities or financial markets or the banking industry; legislative or regulatory changes; supervision and examination by the OCC and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; our ability to successfully implement technological changes; our ability to successfully consummate new business initiatives; litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, including litigation and investigations relating to our residential lending practices and the Advantage Loan Program; the outcomes of such litigation and investigations, including the risk of civil or criminal enforcement action, regulatory restrictions on the Bank’s activities, financial penalties or judgments, other adverse consequences, and any resulting effects on the Company’s business, financial condition, and/or results of operations; losses from such litigation and investigations that may be materially higher than expected and that may materially exceed our contingency reserves; repurchase requests related to the sale of loans originated under the Advantage Loan Program may be materially higher than expected and result in repurchase obligations that may materially exceed our loan repurchase reserves; our ability to comply with Nasdaqs continued listing requirements and the possibility that our shares will be delisted if such requirements are not satisfied; our ability to implement enhanced risk management policies, procedures and controls commensurate with shifts in our business strategies and regulatory expectations; the occurrence of natural and other disasters, pandemics, terrorist activities, significant political events, cyberattacks, security breaches or system failures that affect us or our counterparties or service providers, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the regulatory and governmental actions implemented in response to COVID-19; and the risks, uncertainties, and other factors detailed from time to time in our public filings, including those included in the disclosures under the headings “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2020, subsequent periodic reports and future periodic reports. Should one or more of the foregoing risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those projected in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update, revise, or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, the receipt of new information, or otherwise.

 

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)       Exhibits

 

No.Description
99.1Press release dated October 6, 2020

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  Sterling Bancorp, Inc.
   
  By: /s/ Steve Huber  
    Steve Huber
    Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: October 7, 2020

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Sterling Bancorp Announces Filing of

Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2019 and Updated 2019 Financial Results

Reports 2019 Net Income of $29.2 Million

 

Southfield, Michigan, October 6, 2020 — Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SBT) (the Company”), the holding company of Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B. (the Bank”), today announced that the audit of its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 has been completed and the Company has filed its 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “2019 Form 10-K”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission. As previously reported, the Company was unable to timely file the 2019 Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the first and second quarters of 2020 as a result of (i) additional review and procedures, including on the part of the Company’s independent auditors, relating to the circumstances that led to the previously-reported suspension and permanent discontinuation of the Advantage Loan Program, and (ii) an internal review relating to the permanently discontinued Advantage Loan Program, which has been led by outside legal counsel under the direction of a special committee of independent directors. The Company expects to file its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the first and second quarters of 2020 within the next few weeks.

 

The Company previously announced its fourth quarter and full year 2019 unaudited financial results in a press release issued on January 29, 2020. In connection with the completion of the audit of its consolidated financial statements, the Company revised its consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2019 to reflect the establishment of a loan repurchase liability of $7.8 million and a contingent loss liability of $25.0 million as of December 31, 2019. The loan repurchase liability relates primarily to the sale of loans originated under the Advantage Loan Program and the contingent loss liability relates to previously-disclosed litigation and investigations stemming from the Advantage Loan program. The Company originally had established these liabilities as of March 31, 2020, as announced in the Company’s first quarter financial highlights press release issued on June 1, 2020.

 

Set forth below are revised year end 2019 financial highlights. The Company’s revised consolidated balance sheets for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, as filed with the 2019 Form 10-K, are included at the end of this press release.

 

Year End 2019 Financial Highlights

 

·Net income of $29.2 million
·Net income per diluted share of $0.57
·Non-interest expense of $87.7 million, reflecting the establishment of a loan repurchase liability of $7.8 million and a contingent loss liability of $25.0 million as of December 31, 2019, as well as $6.0 million of professional fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the previously disclosed issues related to the Bank’s residential lending practices
·Return on average assets of 0.89%
·Return on average shareholders’ equity of 8.41%
·Net interest margin of 3.78%
·Non-performing loans of $14.8 million
·Allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans of 147%
·Shareholders’ equity of $332.6 million

 

Thomas M. O’Brien, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated “We are pleased to have achieved this filing milestone for the Company along the road to addressing the various challenges facing the Company in 2020. We expect to have our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the first two quarters of 2020 filed very soon. We are currently on schedule to file our 2020 third quarter Form 10-Q within the SEC required time frame, and expect to release our third quarter earnings shortly before then. We will continue to work hard to bring the Company into full regulatory compliance and achieve sustainable profitable operations as quickly as possible.”

 

 

 

 

About Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

 

Sterling Bancorp, Inc. is a unitary thrift holding company. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B., has primary branch operations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, New York City and Bellevue, Washington. Sterling offers loan products to the residential and commercial markets, as well as retail and business banking services. Sterling also has an operations center and a branch in Southfield, Michigan. For additional information, please visit the Companys website at http://www.sterlingbank.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as will,” “propose,” “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “could,” “would,” “should” or similar terminology, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors (many of which are beyond our control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, the following: the timing and occurrence or non-occurrence of events that may be subject to circumstances beyond our control; increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or from non-financial institutions; changes in the interest rate environment; changes in deposit flows, loan demand or collateral values; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which we do business, or conditions in the real estate, securities or financial markets or the banking industry; legislative or regulatory changes; supervision and examination by the OCC and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; our ability to successfully implement technological changes; our ability to successfully consummate new business initiatives; litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, including litigation and investigations relating to our residential lending practices and the Advantage Loan Program; the outcomes of such litigation and investigations, including the risk of civil or criminal enforcement action, regulatory restrictions on the Bank’s activities, financial penalties or judgments, other adverse consequences, and any resulting effects on the Company’s business, financial condition, and/or results of operations; losses from such litigation and investigations that may be materially higher than expected and that may materially exceed our contingency reserves; repurchase requests related to the sale of loans originated under the Advantage Loan Program may be materially higher than expected and result in repurchase obligations that may materially exceed our loan repurchase reserves; our ability to comply with Nasdaqs continued listing requirements and the possibility that our shares will be delisted if such requirements are not satisfied; our ability to implement enhanced risk management policies, procedures and controls commensurate with shifts in our business strategies and regulatory expectations; the occurrence of natural and other disasters, pandemics, terrorist activities, significant political events, cyberattacks, security breaches or system failures that affect us or our counterparties or service providers, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the regulatory and governmental actions implemented in response to COVID-19; and the risks, uncertainties, and other factors detailed from time to time in our public filings, including those included in the disclosures under the headings “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 6, 2020, subsequent periodic reports and future periodic reports. Should one or more of the foregoing risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those projected in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements presented herein are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to update, revise, or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, the receipt of new information, or otherwise.

 

Contacts:

Financial Profiles, Inc.

Larry Clark

310-622-8223

 

Matthew Keating

310-622-2230

SBT@finprofiles.com

 

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Sterling Bancorp, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands)

 

   December 31, 
   2019   2018 
Assets        
Cash and due from banks  $77,819   $52,526 
Interest-bearing time deposits with other banks   1,025    1,100 
Investment securities   152,544    148,896 
Mortgage loans held for sale   1,337    1,248 
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $21,730 and $21,850   2,891,530    2,895,953 
Accrued interest receivable   13,718    13,529 
Mortgage servicing rights, net   9,765    10,633 
Leasehold improvements and equipment, net   9,198    9,489 
Operating lease right-of-use assets   18,715     
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost   22,950    22,950 
Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance   31,917    31,302 
Deferred tax asset, net   12,095    6,122 
Other assets   2,271    3,026 
       Total assets  $3,244,884   $3,196,774 
           
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity          
Liabilities:          
   Noninterest-bearing deposits  $77,563   $76,815 
   Interest-bearing deposits   2,417,877    2,375,870 
       Total deposits   2,495,440    2,452,685 
   Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings   229,000    293,000 
   Subordinated notes, net   65,179    65,029 
Operating lease liabilities   19,868     
   Accrued expenses and other liabilities   102,783    51,003 
       Total liabilities   2,912,270    2,861,717 
           
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 19)          
           
Shareholders' equity:          
   Preferred stock,  authorized 10,000,000 shares; no shares issued and outstanding        
   Common stock, no par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 49,944,473 and 53,012,283 shares at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively        80,889           111,238   
   Additional paid-in capital   13,210    12,713 
   Retained earnings   238,319    211,115 
   Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)   196    (9)
       Total shareholders' equity   332,614    335,057 
       Total liabilities and shareholders' equity  $3,244,884   $3,196,774 

 

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Sterling Bancorp, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2019   2018   2017 
Interest income               
    Interest and fees on loans  $168,955   $157,499   $122,789 
    Interest and dividends on investment securities and restricted stock   4,976    3,679    1,890 
    Other interest   1,438    593    157 
      Total interest income   175,369    161,771    124,836 
                
Interest expense               
   Interest on deposits   45,693    32,031    17,570 
   Interest on Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings   3,991    4,951    3,795 
   Interest on subordinated notes   4,701    4,689    4,070 
      Total interest expense   54,385    41,671    25,435 
                
Net interest income   120,984    120,100    99,401 
Provision (recovery) for loan losses   (133)   3,229    2,700 
Net interest income after provision (recovery) for loan losses   121,117    116,871    96,701 
                
Non-interest income               
   Service charges and fees   444    379    253 
   Investment management and advisory fees   1,577    2,035    2,338 
   Gain on sale of investment securities   6    86    119 
   Gain (loss) on sale of mortgage loans held for sale   396    240    (381)
   Gain on sale of portfolio loans   5,970    16,433    10,062 
   Unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities   114    (87)    
   Net servicing income   238    1,381    407 
   Income on cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance   1,275    1,193    1,175 
   Other   1,427    377    535 
       Total non-interest income   11,447    22,037    14,508 
                
Non-interest expense               
   Salaries and employee benefits   29,503    28,438    23,778 
   Occupancy and equipment   8,988    7,250    5,986 
   Professional fees   5,984    3,118    1,673 
   Advertising and marketing   1,364    1,640    1,025 
   FDIC assessments   436    1,447    1,296 
   Data processing   1,233    1,223    1,059 
   Provision for mortgage repurchase liability   7,823         
   Provision for contingent losses   25,000         
   Other   7,342    7,220    5,944 
      Total non-interest expense   87,673    50,336    40,761 
                
Income before income taxes   44,891    88,572    70,448 
Income tax expense   15,643    25,104    32,471 
Net income  $29,248   $63,468   $37,977 
                
Income per share, basic and diluted  $0.57   $1.20   $0.82 
                
Weighted average common shares outstanding:               
    Basic   51,115,986    52,963,308    46,219,367 
    Diluted   51,127,879    52,965,567    46,219,367 
                

 

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