Quarter Highlighted by Agreement to Acquire Kentucky Bancshares

LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBT), parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with offices in the Louisville, Indianapolis and Cincinnati metropolitan markets, today reported record earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021. Net income for the first quarter increased 72% to $22.7 million, or $0.99 per diluted share, compared with net income of $13.2 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2020. Strong core deposit growth, as well as significant fee and interest income from the Small Business Administration's (“SBA”) Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), contributed to record profitability for the quarter.

(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)	1Q21			4Q20			1Q20
Net interest income	$	37,825		$	36,252		$	32,446
Provision for credit loss expense(6)		(1,475	)		500			5,925
Non-interest income		13,844			13,698			12,536
Non-interest expenses		24,973			29,029			23,575
Income before income tax expense		28,171			20,421			15,482
Income tax expense		5,461			2,685			2,250
Net income	$	22,710		$	17,736		$	13,232
Net income per share, diluted	$	0.99		$	0.78		$	0.58
Net interest margin		3.39	%		3.35	%		3.71	%
Efficiency ratio(4)		48.29	%		58.06	%		52.35	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets(1)		8.97	%		9.28	%		10.48	%
Annualized return on average equity		20.71	%		16.27	%		13.18	%
Annualized return on average assets		1.96	%		1.56	%		1.43	%

“Stock Yards again delivered record earnings for the quarter, supported by strong revenue generation, substantial deposit growth, a release of credit loss reserves and controlled operating expenses,” said James A. (Ja) Hillebrand, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “In addition to our financial performance, a highlight of the quarter was the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Kentucky Bancshares, Inc. This transaction expands our presence into the attractive Central Kentucky market and represents a complementary fit with our organization. The combination of our two companies provides the opportunity to create efficiencies and enhance the value of the combined entity while offering Kentucky Bank customers broader product offerings, increased lending capabilities and an expanded branch delivery system that stretches throughout the Louisville, Indianapolis and Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati metropolitan markets. We remain on track to welcome Kentucky Bank to the Stock Yards family with an anticipated closing date during the second quarter.”

Kentucky Bancshares, headquartered in Paris, Kentucky, is the holding company for Kentucky Bank, which operates 19 branches in 11 communities throughout Central Kentucky serving the Lexington, Kentucky metropolitan statistical area and each of its contiguous counties. As of March 31, 2021, Kentucky Bancshares reported approximately $1.3 billion in assets, $766 million in loans, $1.0 billion in deposits and $113 million in tangible common equity.

Another key activity for the first quarter related to the additional COVID-19 stimulus relief, which was signed into law in late 2020, allowing for a second round of PPP funding through May 31, 2021. The program offers new PPP loans for companies that did not receive PPP funds in 2020 in addition to “second draw” loans targeted at hard-hit businesses that exhausted their initial PPP proceeds. Consistent with the first round, the Company was very active in this program in the first quarter of 2021, closing over 1,600 loans with total originations in excess of $241 million with fee income of nearly $9 million received that will be recognized over the earlier of five years or loan forgiveness. The Company is estimating that approximately 40% of these loans will be forgiven in 2021. As these borrowers are not required to make payments for 10 months, it is probable that a significant portion of the borrowing base will defer forgiveness until early 2022.

“Due to an improvement in forecasted economic indicators utilized during the current quarter, we recorded a net benefit of $1.2 million to provision for credit losses for loans during the first quarter. This compares to a $5.6 million provision expense for loans in the first quarter a year ago. We feel that we are well positioned as we navigate through the pandemic, having built up significant loan loss reserves, excluding PPP loans, of 1.68%⁽²⁾ at March 31, 2021,” said Hillebrand.

Additional key factors impacting the first quarter of 2021 results included:

• Record diluted quarterly EPS exceeding the previous record set in the fourth quarter of 2020.
• COVID-19 related loan deferrals declined significantly to 0.45% of total loans (excluding PPP) at the end of the first quarter of 2021 from 1.24% of total loans three months earlier.
• Average loan balance growth, excluding PPP, totaled $95 million, or 3%, on a linked quarter basis.
• Deposit balances remained at record levels, with additional PPP and federal stimulus payments contributing to strong quarterly deposit growth of $211 million. In total, deposit balances have increased $1.0 billion over the last twelve months.
• Net interest margin (NIM) compressed 32 basis points to 3.39% compared to the first quarter a year ago. NIM continued to be negatively impacted by loan yield contraction accompanied with ongoing excess balance sheet liquidity offset by the positive impact of PPP.
• Despite ongoing contraction in loan yields, net interest income increased $5.4 million, or 17%, over the first quarter of 2020, boosted by $7.0 million in PPP income and a significant decline in cost of funds.
• Non-interest income increased 10% over the first quarter of 2020, reflecting record debit/credit card income and treasury management fees and continued strong mortgage banking income. While slowly rebounding, deposit service charges continue to be impacted by pandemic related stimulus and general changes in customer behavior/spending.
• Non-interest expenses reflected moderate increases in compensation, technology and communication and FDIC insurance premiums. Legal and professional fees reflected $400,000 in expense related to the pending Kentucky Bancshares acquisition. Capital and deposit tax declined significantly, as the Company transitioned to report Kentucky state income tax as a component of tax expense in accordance with the State law change taking effect this quarter.

Hillebrand added, “In March, we were one of 30 financial institutions recognized in the inaugural Hovde High Performer List based on our prior year results. Criteria to be admitted included market capitalization below $1 billion, above median average pre-provision ROA, loan and deposit growth, and tangible book value growth. In their screening methodology, Hovde eliminated 261 financial institutions, or nearly 90% of the potential class of banks and thrifts that trade on major exchanges. This recognition is an honor and a testament to the dedication of our employees, who continue to work diligently to support the communities we serve.”

Results of Operations – First Quarter 2021 Compared with First Quarter 2020

Net interest income – the Company’s largest source of revenue – increased $5.4 million, or 17%, to $37.8 million, driven primarily by PPP loan fees and a significant decline in cost of funds.

• Total interest income rose $2.6 million, or 7%, to $39.5 million, primarily due to a 10% increase in interest income on loans resulting from strong PPP income partly offset by continued yield contraction.
• With regard to the first round of PPP lending, as of March 31, 2021, approximately 41% of total loan originations (in terms of dollars) had been forgiven by the SBA and another 21% have been submitted for forgiveness. With regard to fee income, approximately 73% of the $19.5 million in fee income received has been recognized life to date. Round one PPP borrowers are required to begin making payments in July, which will likely accelerate forgiveness submissions for this round of PPP.
• Interest expense declined $2.7 million, or 62%, to $1.7 million. Interest expense on deposits decreased $2.5 million, or 62%, as the cost of interest bearing deposits declined to 0.22% in the first quarter of 2021 from 0.69% in the first quarter a year ago. While average interest bearing deposit balances surged $499 million, or 22%, the Company significantly benefited from the strategic lowering of stated deposit rates in early 2020 in tandem with the Federal Reserve’s short-term interest rate moves and the corresponding lowering of CD offering rates.
• NIM decreased 32 basis points to 3.39% for the first quarter of 2021 from 3.71% in the first quarter a year ago. NIM contraction was primarily driven by lower interest rates, coupled with higher levels of excess balance sheet liquidity. The Company has maintained significantly higher levels of balance sheet liquidity driven in part by the funding of PPP loans through deposit growth. During the quarter, the PPP loan portfolio and the related fee income had a 21 basis point positive impact to NIM, while excess liquidity had a 14 basis point negative impact.

Due to continued improvement in the unemployment forecast combined with minimal net charge-offs and solid traditional credit metrics including and excluding PPP loans, the Bank recorded a $1.2 million net benefit to provision for credit losses for loans in the first quarter of 2021. In addition, a $275,000 net benefit was recorded to provision for credit losses for off balance sheet exposures consistent with improvement in underlying CECL model factors.

Non-interest income increased $1.3 million, or 10%, to $13.8 million.

• Wealth management and trust income totaled $6.2 million for the first quarter of 2021 and slightly exceeded the first quarter a year ago. Despite a meaningful decline in non-recurring estate fees, significant growth in assets under management and record market performance served to elevate asset-based fees.
• Retail deposit service charges decreased $339,000, or 26%, primarily related to a decline in non-sufficient funds fees collected. Stimulus checks, more lucrative unemployment compensation, diminished pandemic spending and PPP funding have all had a sustained impact upon our customers’ spending and savings behavior.
• Debit/credit card income increased $293,000, or 15%. Growth trends in both portfolios remain positive with debit card business benefitting from a significant increase in signature, or in person, payment presentment.
• Treasury management fees increased by $256,000, or 20%, driven by increased transaction volume, new product sales and customer base expansion. In addition, calling efforts to existing customers have led to significant increases in online services, reporting, ACH origination, remote deposit and fraud mitigation services.
• Mortgage banking revenue increased $598,000, or 71%, to $1.4 million for the first quarter of 2021. While rising mortgage rates, tight housing supply and diminishing affordability driven by surging housing prices will likely weigh on the enthusiasm of home buyers in the months ahead, the pipeline of viable loans going into the second quarter of 2021 was strong, with incoming applications remaining steady.
  

Non-interest expenses increased $1.4 million, or 6%, to $25.0 million.

• Compensation expense increased $594,000, or 5%, primarily due to annual merit-based salary increases, an increase in full time equivalent employees, and increased incentive compensation, partially offset by an expense reduction attributable to the origination of PPP loans.
• Employee benefits increased $94,000, or 3%, primarily due to elevated 401(k) and payroll tax expenses, which was partially offset by lower health insurance expense.
• Technology and communication expense for the first quarter of 2021 increased $283,000, or 14%, consistent with expanded data storage and increased expenses related to the hosted core system.
• Marketing and business development expense, which includes all costs associated with promoting the Bank, community investment, retaining customers and acquiring new business, has remained significantly below historic levels consistent with reduced travel and customer entertainment expense related to the pandemic.
• Legal and professional fees reflected approximately $400,000 in expense related to the pending Kentucky Bancshares acquisition.
  

Financial Condition – March 31, 2021 Compared with March 31, 2020

Total loans increased $698 million, or 24%, to $3.6 billion. Excluding the PPP loan portfolio, total loans increased $85 million, or 3%, during the year, with $128 million of growth in the commercial real estate portfolio and $45 million of growth in residential real estate loans, partially offset by a $114 million decrease in the commercial and industrial portfolio tied to line of credit usage. Similar to what was experienced in the second quarter of 2020, a portion of the Company’s customer base that received second round PPP funding have utilized their excess liquidity to pay down operating lines.

In an effort to deploy excess balance sheet liquidity, the Company continued its strategy of expanding the investment portfolio, growing total investment securities by a net $226 million, or 51%, over the past twelve months.

Asset quality, which has trended within a narrow range over the past several years, has remained strong. During the first quarter of 2021, the Company recorded net loan charge-offs of $6,000, compared to net loan charge-offs of $54,000 in the first quarter of 2020. Non-performing loans were $14.3 million, or 0.47%⁽²⁾, of total loans (excluding PPP) outstanding compared to $6.0 million, or 0.21%, of total loans outstanding at March 31, 2020. Approximately $10 million of the non-accrual loan balance at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 relates to one commercial real estate relationship that was placed on non-accrual status during the second quarter of 2020.

Total deposits increased $1.0 billion, or 31%, from March 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021, with non-interest bearing deposits representing $511 million of the increase. The mix of deposits has also improved with higher-cost time deposits declining $55 million over the past twelve months. Both period end and average deposit balances ended at record levels at March 31, 2021. Federal programs such as the PPP and stimulus checks have boosted deposit balances.

At March 31, 2021, the Company remained “well capitalized,” the highest regulatory capital rating for financial institutions. Total equity to assets was 9.25% and the tangible common equity ratio was 8.97%⁽¹⁾ at March 31, 2021, compared to 10.83% and 10.48%⁽¹⁾, respectively, at March 31, 2020, with the decline attributable to the January 1, 2020 CECL adoption, loan growth and a $12 million accumulated other comprehensive equity decline associated with the late first quarter increase in bond yields.

In March 2021, the Board of Directors continued the dividend rate of $0.27 per common share initially set in November 2019. The Company will continue to evaluate dividend rate increases in relation to maintaining strong capital levels.

No shares were repurchased in the first quarter of 2021 and approximately 741,000 shares remain eligible for repurchase under the current buy-back plan which expires in May 2021.

Results of Operations – First Quarter 2021 Compared with Fourth Quarter 2020

Net interest income increased $1.6 million, or 4%, over the prior quarter to $37.8 million, led by loan growth, PPP fee recognition and the continued decline in cost of funds.

Due to continued improvement in the unemployment forecast combined with minimal net charge-offs and solid traditional credit metrics including and excluding PPP loans, the Company recorded a $1.2 million benefit to provision for credit losses for loans in the first quarter of 2021, compared to $1.4 million provision for credit loss expense for loans in the prior quarter. In addition, consistent with improvement in underlying CECL model factors, a net benefit was recorded to provision for credit losses for off balance sheet exposures of $275,000 and $900,000 in the first quarter of 2021 and fourth quarter of 2020, respectively.

Non-interest income increased $146,000 to $13.8 million. Increases in wealth management and trust service fees, debit/credit card income and higher treasury management fees more than offset a modest first quarter reduction in mortgage banking income.

Non-interest expenses decreased $4.1 million, or 14%, to $25.0 million.

• Compensation expense decreased $1.2 million, to $12.8 million compared with the fourth quarter of 2020 due to higher fourth quarter incentive compensation expense and deferred expenses associated with the latest round of PPP loans originated in the current quarter.
• Employee benefits increased $1.1 million primarily due to higher health insurance expense, 401(k) expense and payroll tax expenses.
• The fourth quarter of 2020 reflected the completion of a large tax credit project and elevated amortization of investment in tax credit partnership expense, with a corresponding offset to tax expense spread proportionately over the year.
• Capital and deposit tax expense declined significantly, as the Company transitioned to report Kentucky state income tax as a component of tax expense.

Financial Condition March 31, 2021, Compared with December 31, 2020

Total assets increased $185 million on a linked quarter basis to $4.8 billion, reflecting significant increases in both loans and investment securities.

Total loans increased $104 million on a linked quarter basis to $3.6 billion at quarter end and the deployment of excess liquidity led to a $85 million increase in securities. Total line of credit usage decreased to 37% as of March 31, 2021, from 38% at December 31, 2020. Commercial and industrial line usage decreased to 26% as of March 31, 2021, compared to 28% at December 31, 2020.

Total deposits increased $211 million, or 5%, on a linked quarter basis due to higher deposit levels consistent with growth in balances with both existing and new customers. Federal programs such as the PPP, stimulus checks and increased unemployment benefits have boosted deposit balances during the quarter. Additionally, economic uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has resulted in a portion of the customer base maintaining generally higher deposit balances.

About the Company

Louisville, Kentucky-based Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc., with $4.8 billion in assets, was incorporated in 1988 as a bank holding company. It is the parent company of Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, which was established in 1904. The Company’s common shares trade on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “SYBT.”

This report contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the Company’s management believes the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of these assumptions could be inaccurate. Therefore, there can be no assurance the forward-looking statements included herein will prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed Kentucky Bancshares merger will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; the risk that integration of Kentucky Bancshares’ operations with those of Stock Yards will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected; diversion of management's attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities due to the merger; the challenges of integrating and retaining key employees; the effect of the announcement of the merger on the combined company's respective customer and employee relationships and operating results; the possibility that the merger may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; dilution caused by Stock Yards’ issuance of additional shares of Stock Yards common stock in connection with the merger; the magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global economy and financial market conditions and the business, results of operations and financial condition of the combined company; economic conditions both generally and more specifically in the markets in which the Company and its subsidiary operates; competition for the Company’s customers from other providers of financial services; government legislation and regulation, which change and over which the Company has no control; changes in interest rates; material unforeseen changes in liquidity, results of operations, or financial condition of the Company’s customers; the effects of government stimulus programs such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act; the effects of the FRB’s benchmark interest rate cuts on liquidity and margins; the potential adverse effects of the coronavirus or any other pandemic on the ability of borrowers to satisfy their obligations to the Company, the level of the Company’s non-performing assets, the demand for the Company’s loans or its other products and services, other aspects of the Company’s business and operations, and financial markets and economic growth, and other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company. See “Risk Factors” outlined in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. Financial Information (unaudited)
First Quarter 2021 Earnings Release
(In thousands unless otherwise noted)
				Three Months Ended
				March 31,
Income Statement Data					2021				2020
Net interest income, fully tax equivalent (3)				$	37,874			$	32,494
Interest income:
Loans				$	37,000			$	33,749
Federal funds sold and interest bearing due from banks					66				531
Mortgage loans held for sale					64				61
Securities					2,388				2,541
Total interest income					39,518				36,882
Interest expense:
Deposits					1,510				3,962
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase and
other short-term borrowings					7				45
Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances					176				429
Total interest expense					1,693				4,436
Net interest income					37,825				32,446
Provision for credit losses (6)					(1,475	)			5,925
Net interest income after provision for credit losses					39,300				26,521
Non-interest income:
Wealth management and trust services					6,248				6,218
Deposit service charges					944				1,283
Debit and credit card income					2,273				1,980
Treasury management fees					1,540				1,284
Mortgage banking income					1,444				846
Net investment product sales commissions and fees					464				466
Bank owned life insurance					161				179
Other					770				280
Total non-interest income					13,844				12,536
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation					12,827				12,233
Employee benefits					3,261				3,167
Net occupancy and equipment					2,045				1,831
Technology and communication					2,346				2,063
Debit and credit card processing					705				656
Marketing and business development					524				560
Postage, printing and supplies					409				441
Legal and professional					862				623
FDIC Insurance					405				129
Amortization of investments in tax credit partnerships					31				36
Capital and deposit based taxes					458				1,030
Other					1,100				806
Total non-interest expenses					24,973				23,575
Income before income tax expense					28,171				15,482
Income tax expense					5,461				2,250
Net income				$	22,710			$	13,232
Net income per share - Basic				$	1.00			$	0.59
Net income per share - Diluted					0.99				0.58
Cash dividend declared per share					0.27				0.27
Weighted average shares - Basic					22,622				22,516
Weighted average shares - Diluted					22,865				22,736
				March 31,
Balance Sheet Data					2021				2020
Loans				$	3,635,156			$	2,937,366
Allowance for credit losses on loans					50,714				42,143
Total assets					4,794,075				3,784,586
Non-interest bearing deposits					1,370,183				858,883
Interest bearing deposits					2,829,779				2,339,995
FHLB advances					24,180				69,191
Stockholders' equity					443,232				409,702
Total shares outstanding					22,781				22,665
Book value per share (1)				$	19.46			$	18.08
Tangible common equity per share (1)					18.82				17.43
Market value per share					51.06				28.93
Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. Financial Information (unaudited)
First Quarter 2021 Earnings Release
				Three Months Ended
				March 31,
Average Balance Sheet Data					2021				2020
Federal funds sold and interest bearing due from banks				$	235,370			$	168,563
Mortgage loans held for sale					14,618				4,953
Available for sale debt securities					661,175				449,610
FHLB stock					10,640				11,284
Loans					3,605,760				2,891,668
Total interest earning assets					4,527,563				3,526,078
Total assets					4,710,836				3,710,119
Interest bearing deposits					2,815,986				2,316,774
Total deposits					4,094,179				3,120,242
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase and other short term borrowings					56,536				43,739
FHLB advances					29,270				73,939
Total interest bearing liabilities					2,901,792				2,434,452
Total stockholders' equity					444,821				403,702
Performance Ratios
Annualized return on average assets					1.96	%			1.43	%
Annualized return on average equity					20.71	%			13.18	%
Net interest margin, fully tax equivalent					3.39	%			3.71	%
Non-interest income to total revenue, fully tax equivalent					26.77	%			27.84	%
Efficiency ratio, fully tax equivalent (4)					48.29	%			52.35	%
Capital Ratios
Total stockholders' equity to total assets (1)					9.25	%			10.83	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)					8.97	%			10.48	%
Average stockholders' equity to average assets					9.44	%			10.88	%
Total risk-based capital					13.39	%			12.75	%
Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital					12.32	%			11.81	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital					12.32	%			11.81	%
Leverage					9.46	%			10.78	%
Loan Segmentation
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied				$	876,523			$	799,284
Commercial real estate - owner occupied					527,316				476,534
Commercial and industrial					769,773				883,868
Commercial and industrial - PPP					612,885				-
Residential real estate - owner occupied					262,516				219,221
Residential real estate - non-owner occupied					136,380				134,734
Construction and land development					281,815				246,040
Home equity lines of credit					91,233				107,121
Consumer					51,058				44,939
Leases					14,115				15,476
Credit cards - commercial					11,542				10,149
Total loans and leases				$	3,635,156			$	2,937,366
Asset Quality Data
Non-accrual loans				$	12,913			$	4,235
Troubled debt restructurings					15				52
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing					1,377				1,762
Total non-performing loans					14,305				6,049
Other real estate owned					281				493
Total non-performing assets				$	14,586			$	6,542
Non-performing loans to total loans (2)					0.39	%			0.21	%
Non-performing assets to total assets					0.30	%			0.17	%
Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans (2)					1.40	%			1.43	%
Allowance for credit losses on loans to average loans					1.41	%			1.46	%
Allowance for credit losses on loans to non-performing loans					355	%			697	%
Net (charge-offs) recoveries				$	(6	)		$	(54	)
Net (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans (5)					0.00	%			0.00	%

Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. Financial Information (unaudited)
First Quarter 2021 Earnings Release
		Quarterly Comparison
Income Statement Data		3/31/21				12/31/20				9/30/20				6/30/20				3/31/20
Net interest income, fully tax equivalent (3)		$	37,874			$	36,301			$	33,768			$	33,573			$	32,494
Net interest income		$	37,825			$	36,252			$	33,695			$	33,528			$	32,446
Provision for credit losses (6)			(1,475	)			500				4,968				7,025				5,925
Net interest income after provision for credit losses			39,300				35,752				28,727				26,503				26,521
Non-interest income:
Wealth management and trust services			6,248				5,805				5,657				5,726				6,218
Deposit service charges			944				1,080				998				800				1,283
Debit and credit card income			2,273				2,219				2,218				2,063				1,980
Treasury management fees			1,540				1,506				1,368				1,249				1,284
Mortgage banking income			1,444				1,708				1,979				1,622				846
Net investment product sales commissions and fees			464				487				431				391				466
Bank owned life insurance			161				166				172				176				179
Other			770				727				220				595				280
Total non-interest income			13,844				13,698				13,043				12,622				12,536
Non-interest expenses:
Compensation			12,827				14,072				13,300				11,763				12,233
Employee benefits			3,261				2,173				2,853				2,871				3,167
Net occupancy and equipment			2,045				2,137				2,177				2,037				1,831
Technology and communication			2,346				2,347				2,323				1,999				2,063
Debit and credit card processing			705				698				649				603				656
Marketing and business development			524				835				523				465				560
Postage, printing and supplies			409				423				472				442				441
Legal and professional			862				597				544				628				623
FDIC Insurance			405				323				435				330				129
Amortization of investments in tax credit partnerships			31				2,955				52				53				36
Capital and deposit based taxes			458				1,055				1,076				1,225				1,030
Other			1,100				1,414				1,242				993				806
Total non-interest expenses			24,973				29,029				25,646				23,409				23,575
Income before income tax expense			28,171				20,421				16,124				15,716				15,482
Income tax expense			5,461				2,685				1,591				2,348				2,250
Net income		$	22,710			$	17,736			$	14,533			$	13,368			$	13,232
Net income per share - Basic		$	1.00			$	0.79			$	0.64			$	0.59			$	0.59
Net income per share - Diluted			0.99				0.78				0.64				0.59				0.58
Cash dividend declared per share			0.27				0.27				0.27				0.27				0.27
Weighted average shares - Basic			22,622				22,593				22,582				22,560				22,516
Weighted average shares - Diluted			22,865				22,794				22,802				22,739				22,736
		Quarterly Comparison
Balance Sheet Data		3/31/21				12/31/20				9/30/20				6/30/20				3/31/20
Cash and due from banks		$	43,061			$	43,179			$	49,517			$	46,362			$	47,662
Federal funds sold and interest bearing due from banks			289,920				274,766				241,486				178,032				206,849
Mortgage loans held for sale			6,579				22,547				23,611				17,364				8,141
Available for sale debt securities			672,167				586,978				429,184				485,249				445,813
FHLB stock			10,228				11,284				11,284				11,284				11,284
Loans			3,635,156				3,531,596				3,472,481				3,464,077				2,937,366
Allowance for credit losses on loans			50,714				51,920				50,501				47,708				42,143
Total assets			4,794,075				4,608,629				4,365,129				4,334,533				3,784,586
Non-interest bearing deposits			1,370,183				1,187,057				1,180,001				1,205,253				858,883
Interest bearing deposits			2,829,779				2,801,577				2,574,517				2,521,903				2,339,995
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase			51,681				47,979				40,430				42,722				32,366
Federal funds purchased			8,642				11,464				9,179				8,401				9,747
FHLB advances			24,180				31,639				56,536				61,432				69,191
Stockholders' equity			443,232				440,701				428,598				420,231				409,702
Total shares outstanding			22,781				22,692				22,692				22,667				22,665
Book value per share (1)		$	19.46			$	19.42			$	18.89			$	18.54			$	18.08
Tangible common equity per share (1)			18.82				18.78				18.25				17.89				17.43
Market value per share			51.06				40.48				34.04				40.20				28.93
Capital Ratios
Total stockholders' equity to total assets (1)			9.25	%			9.56	%			9.82	%			9.69	%			10.83	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)			8.97	%			9.28	%			9.52	%			9.39	%			10.48	%
Average stockholders' equity to average assets			9.44	%			9.61	%			9.85	%			9.66	%			10.88	%
Total risk-based capital			13.39	%			13.36	%			13.79	%			13.50	%			12.75	%
Common equity tier 1 risk-based capital			12.32	%			12.23	%			12.61	%			12.39	%			11.81	%
Tier 1 risk-based capital			12.32	%			12.23	%			12.61	%			12.39	%			11.81	%
Leverage			9.46	%			9.57	%			9.70	%			9.50	%			10.78	%
Stock Yards Bancorp, Inc. Financial Information (unaudited)
First Quarter 2021 Earnings Release
		Quarterly Comparison
Average Balance Sheet Data		3/31/21				12/31/20				9/30/20				6/30/20				3/31/20
Federal funds sold and interest bearing due from banks		$	235,370			$	271,277			$	194,100			$	285,617			$	168,563
Mortgage loans held for sale			14,618				28,951				28,520				18,010				4,953
Available for sale debt securities			661,175				510,677				442,089				412,368				449,610
Loans			3,605,760				3,483,298				3,444,407				3,396,767				2,891,668
Total interest earning assets			4,527,563				4,305,487				4,120,400				4,124,046				3,526,078
Total assets			4,710,836				4,512,874				4,325,500				4,317,430				3,710,119
Interest bearing deposits			2,815,986				2,689,103				2,521,838				2,500,315				2,316,774
Total deposits			4,094,179				3,888,247				3,707,845				3,713,451				3,120,242
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase			56,536				55,825				49,709				49,940				43,739
FHLB advances			29,270				48,771				59,487				63,896				73,939
Total interest bearing liabilities			2,901,792				2,793,699				2,631,034				2,614,151				2,434,452
Total stockholders' equity			444,821				433,596				426,049				416,920				403,702
Performance Ratios
Annualized return on average assets			1.96	%			1.56	%			1.34	%			1.25	%			1.43	%
Annualized return on average equity			20.71	%			16.27	%			13.57	%			12.90	%			13.18	%
Net interest margin, fully tax equivalent			3.39	%			3.35	%			3.26	%			3.27	%			3.71	%
Non-interest income to total revenue, fully tax equivalent			26.77	%			27.40	%			27.86	%			27.32	%			27.84	%
Efficiency ratio, fully tax equivalent (4)			48.29	%			58.06	%			54.79	%			50.67	%			52.35	%
Loans Segmentation
Commercial real estate - non-owner occupied		$	876,523			$	833,470			$	828,328			$	815,464			$	799,284
Commercial real estate - owner occupied			527,316				508,672				492,825				472,457				476,534
Commercial and industrial			769,773				802,422				731,850				764,480				883,868
Commercial and industrial - PPP			612,885				550,186				642,056				630,082				-
Residential real estate - owner occupied			262,516				239,191				211,984				215,891				219,221
Residential real estate - non-owner occupied			136,380				140,930				143,149				139,121				134,734
Construction and land development			281,815				291,764				257,875				255,447				246,040
Home equity lines of credit			91,233				95,366				97,150				103,672				107,121
Consumer			51,058				44,606				44,161				43,758				44,939
Leases			14,115				14,786				13,981				14,843				15,476
Credit cards - commercial			11,542				10,203				9,122				8,862				10,149
Total loans and leases		$	3,635,156			$	3,531,596			$	3,472,481			$	3,464,077			$	2,937,366
Asset Quality Data
Non-accrual loans		$	12,913			$	12,514			$	12,358			$	14,262			$	4,235
Troubled debt restructurings			15				16				18				45				52
Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing			1,377				649				1,152				48				1,762
Total non-performing loans			14,305				13,179				13,528				14,355				6,049
Other real estate owned			281				281				612				493				493
Total non-performing assets		$	14,586			$	13,460			$	14,140			$	14,848			$	6,542
Non-performing loans to total loans (2)			0.39	%			0.37	%			0.39	%			0.41	%			0.21	%
Non-performing assets to total assets			0.30	%			0.29	%			0.32	%			0.34	%			0.17	%
Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans (2)			1.40	%			1.47	%			1.45	%			1.38	%			1.43	%
Allowance for credit losses on loans to average loans			1.41	%			1.49	%			1.47	%			1.40	%			1.46	%
Allowance for credit losses on loans to non-performing loans			355	%			394	%			373	%			332	%			697	%
Net (charge-offs) recoveries		$	(6	)		$	19			$	(1,625	)		$	15			$	(54	)
Net (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans (5)			0.00	%			0.00	%			-0.05	%			0.00	%			0.00	%
Other Information
Total assets under management (in millions)		$	3,989			$	3,852			$	3,414			$	3,204			$	2,961
Full-time equivalent employees			638				641				626				620				618
(1) - The following table provides a reconciliation of total stockholders’ equity in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) to tangible stockholders’ equity, a non-GAAP disclosure. Bancorp provides the tangible book value per share, a non-GAAP measure, in addition to those defined by banking regulators, because of its widespread use by investors as a means to evaluate capital adequacy:
		Quarterly Comparison
(In thousands, except per share data)		3/31/21				12/31/20				9/30/20				6/30/20				3/31/20
Total stockholders' equity - GAAP (a)		$	443,232			$	440,701			$	428,598			$	420,231			$	409,702
Less: Goodwill			(12,513	)			(12,513	)			(12,513	)			(12,513	)			(12,513	)
Less: Core deposit intangible			(1,885	)			(1,962	)			(2,042	)			(2,122	)			(2,203	)
Tangible common equity - Non-GAAP (c)		$	428,834			$	426,226			$	414,043			$	405,596			$	394,986
Total assets - GAAP (b)		$	4,794,075			$	4,608,629			$	4,365,129			$	4,334,533			$	3,784,586
Less: Goodwill			(12,513	)			(12,513	)			(12,513	)			(12,513	)			(12,513	)
Less: Core deposit intangible			(1,885	)			(1,962	)			(2,042	)			(2,122	)			(2,203	)
Tangible assets - Non-GAAP (d)		$	4,779,677			$	4,594,154			$	4,350,574			$	4,319,898			$	3,769,870
Total stockholders' equity to total assets - GAAP (a/b)			9.25	%			9.56	%			9.82	%			9.69	%			10.83	%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets - Non-GAAP (c/d)			8.97	%			9.28	%			9.52	%			9.39	%			10.48	%
Total shares outstanding (e)			22,781				22,692				22,692				22,667				22,665
Book value per share - GAAP (a/e)		$	19.46			$	19.42			$	18.89			$	18.54			$	18.08
Tangible common equity per share - Non-GAAP (c/e)			18.82				18.78				18.25				17.89				17.43
(2) - Allowance for credit losses on loans to total non-PPP loans represents the allowance for credit losses on loans, divided by total loans less PPP loans. Non-performing loans to total non-PPP loans represents non-performing loans, divided by total loans less PPP loans. Bancorp believes these non-GAAP disclosures are important because they provide a comparable ratio after eliminating the PPP loans, which are fully guaranteed by the U.S. SBA and have not been allocated for within the allowance for credit losses on loans and are not at risk of non-performance.
		Quarterly Comparison
(Dollars in thousands)		3/31/21				12/31/20				9/30/20				6/30/20				3/31/20
Total Loans - GAAP (a)		$	3,635,156			$	3,531,596			$	3,472,481			$	3,464,077			$	2,937,366
Less: PPP loans			(612,885	)			(550,186	)			(642,056	)			(630,082	)			-
Total non-PPP Loans - Non-GAAP (b)			3,022,271				2,981,410				2,830,425				2,833,995				2,937,366
Allowance for credit losses on loans (c)		$	50,714			$	51,920			$	50,501			$	47,708			$	42,143
Non-performing loans (d)			14,305				13,179				13,528				14,355				6,049
Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans - GAAP (c/a)			1.40	%			1.47	%			1.45	%			1.38	%			1.43	%
Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans - Non-GAAP (c/b)			1.68	%			1.74	%			1.78	%			1.68	%			1.43	%
Non-performing loans to total loans - GAAP (d/a)			0.39	%			0.37	%			0.39	%			0.41	%			0.21	%
Non-performing loans to total loans - Non-GAAP (d/b)			0.47	%			0.44	%			0.48	%			0.51	%			0.21	%
(3) - Interest income on a FTE basis includes the additional amount of interest income that would have been earned if investments in certain tax-exempt interest earning assets had been made in assets subject to federal, state and local taxes yielding the same after-tax income.
(4) - The efficiency ratio, a non-GAAP measure, equals total non-interest expenses divided by the sum of net interest income (FTE) and non-interest income. The ratio excludes net gains (losses) on sales, calls, and impairment of investment securities, if applicable. In addition to the efficiency ratio presented, Bancorp considers an adjusted efficiency ratio to be important because it provides a comparable ratio after eliminating the fluctuation in non-interest expenses related to amortization of investments in tax credit partnerships. The calculations below reflect the reclassification of credit loss expense for off-balance sheet exposures from non-interest expense to provision for credit losses, as described in footnote 6 below.
		Quarterly Comparison
(Dollars in thousands)		3/31/21				12/31/20				9/30/20				6/30/20				3/31/20
Total non-interest expenses - GAAP (a)		$	24,973			$	29,029			$	25,646			$	23,409			$	23,575
Less: Amortization of investments in tax credit partnerships			(31	)			(2,955	)			(52	)			(53	)			(36	)
Total non-interest expenses - Non-GAAP (c)		$	24,942			$	26,074			$	25,594			$	23,356			$	23,539
Total net interest income, fully tax equivalent		$	37,874			$	36,301			$	33,768			$	33,573			$	32,494
Total non-interest income			13,844				13,698				13,043				12,622				12,536
Less: Gain/loss on sale of securities			-				-				-				-				-
Total revenue - GAAP (b)		$	51,718			$	49,999			$	46,811			$	46,195			$	45,030
Efficiency ratio - GAAP (a/b)			48.29	%			58.06	%			54.79	%			50.67	%			52.35	%
Efficiency ratio - Non-GAAP (c/b)			48.23	%			52.15	%			54.68	%			50.56	%			52.27	%
(5) - Quarterly net (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans ratios are not annualized.
(6) - Effective for the three month period ended March 31, 2020, the Company has reclassified credit loss expense for off-balance sheet exposures from non-interest expense to provision for credit losses and combined this with the provision for losses on loans on the face of the income statement. The efficiency ratios and adjusted efficiency ratios calculated above in footnote 4 reflect this reclassification.
		Quarterly Comparison
(in thousands)		3/31/21				12/31/20				9/30/20				6/30/20				3/31/20
Provision for credit losses - loans		$	(1,200	)		$	1,400			$	4,418			$	5,550			$	5,550
Provision for credit losses - off balance sheet exposures			(275	)			(900	)			550				1,475				375
Total provision for credit losses			(1,475	)			500				4,968				7,025				5,925

Contact:
T. Clay Stinnett
Executive Vice President,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(502) 625-0890