F.N.B. Corporation Reports First Quarter 2023 Earnings

PRESS RELEASE

April 19, 2023 - Pittsburgh, PA

F.N.B. Corporation Reports First Quarter 2023 Earnings
Maintains Strong Liquidity and Capital Position with Stable Deposit Balances and Record Revenue
Return on Average Assets of 1.4% and Return on Average Tangible Common Equity (non-GAAP) of 20%

F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) reported earnings for the first quarter of 2023 with net income available to common stockholders of $144.5 million, or $0.40 per diluted common share. Comparatively, first quarter of 2022 net income available to common stockholders totaled $51.0 million, or $0.15 per diluted common share, and fourth quarter of 2022 net income available to common stockholders totaled $137.5 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share.

On an operating basis, first quarter of 2023 earnings per diluted common share (non-GAAP) was $0.40, excluding $2.1 million (pre-tax) of merger-related significant items. By comparison, the first quarter of 2022 was $0.26 per diluted common share (non-GAAP) on an operating basis, excluding $47.8 million (pre-tax) in Howard Bancorp, Inc. (Howard) merger-related significant items and $4.2 million (pre-tax) in branch consolidation costs. The fourth quarter of 2022 was $0.44 per diluted common share (non-GAAP) on an operating basis, excluding $21.9 million (pre-tax) of UB Bancorp (Union) merger-related significant items and $2.8 million (pre-tax) of branch consolidation costs.

“F.N.B. Corporation's first quarter earnings per diluted common share totaled $0.40 with strong momentum on several key performance metrics including return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP) of 20%, return on average assets of 1.4%, and an efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) of 50.6%,” said F.N.B. Corporation Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent J. Delie, Jr.  “Our strong financial performance was due to the consistent execution of our conservative business model and focus on customer primacy which led to stable deposit balances, solid capital with a CET1 ratio of 10% and ample liquidity to cover our uninsured and non-collateralized deposits by 170%.”

“The recent bank failures placed a spotlight on the importance of maintaining a diversified and granular deposit base, conservative and prudent balance sheet management for the long term, and sound risk management policies and governance. These practices have always been integral to FNB’s long-term strategy and are ingrained in our enterprise risk management program. Throughout the industry volatility, the strength of our balance sheet allowed us to increase customer acquisition and deepen existing relationships. FNB has earned our customers’ trust and we promise to uphold that trust as we have positioned the Company to outperform in a wide array of potential economic and industry scenarios.”

First Quarter 2023 Highlights
(All comparisons refer to the first quarter of 2022, except as noted)

^{Non-GAAP measures referenced in this release are used by management to measure performance in operating the business that management believes enhances investors' ability to better understand the underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities. Reconciliations of non-GAAP operating measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables at the end of this release. For more information regarding our use of non-GAAP measures, please refer to the discussion herein under the caption, Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators.}

First Quarter 2023 Results – Comparison to Prior-Year Quarter
(All comparisons refer to the first quarter of 2022, except as noted)

Net interest income totaled $336.7 million, an increase of $102.6 million, or 43.8%, compared to $234.1 million, as total average earning assets increased $2.1 billion, or 5.6%, including a $4.2 billion increase in average loans and leases from organic origination activity and acquired Union loans, as well as a $313.3 million increase in average investment securities. These increases were partially funded by excess cash, which decreased by $2.3 billion. In addition to the growth in average earning assets, net interest income benefited from the repricing impact of the higher interest rate environment on earning asset yields, which was partially offset by the higher cost of interest-bearing deposits given customers' preferences migrating toward time deposits.

The net interest margin (FTE) (non-GAAP) increased 95 basis points to 3.56%, as the yield on earning assets (non-GAAP) increased 185 basis points to 4.68%, primarily due to higher yields on loans, investment securities and interest-bearing deposits with banks reflecting the higher interest rate environment. The total cost of funds increased 96 basis points to 1.18% with a 136 basis point increase in interest-bearing deposit costs to 1.50%, as well as an increase of 144 basis points in long-term debt costs reflecting the August 2022 offering of $350 million aggregate principal amount of 5.15% fixed rate senior notes due in 2025. Between March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2023, the Federal Open Market Committee raised the target Federal Funds interest rate by 450 basis points.

Average loans and leases totaled $30.4 billion, an increase of $4.2 billion, or 15.9%, including growth of $2.1 billion in commercial loans and leases and $2.1 billion in consumer loans. The increase in average commercial loans and leases included $1.1 billion, or 17.9%, in commercial and industrial loan growth and $960.9 million, or 9.1%, in commercial real estate growth driven by a combination of organic loan origination activity and the Union acquisition. Organic commercial growth since the year-ago quarter was led by the Pittsburgh, Cleveland and North Carolina markets. The increase in average consumer loans included a $1.4 billion increase in residential mortgages reflecting adjustable-rate mortgages which we held in portfolio on the balance sheet and the continued success of the Physicians First mortgage program, a $325.7 million increase in indirect auto loans and a $283.3 million increase in direct home equity installment loans driven by strong organic loan origination activity throughout 2022.

Average deposits totaled $34.2 billion with growth in average time deposits of $1.2 billion, or 42.1%, average non-interest-bearing demand deposits of $154.6 million, or 1.4%, and average savings deposits of $148.5 million, or 3.8%, more than offsetting the decline in average interest-bearing demand deposits of $323.5 million, or 2.2%. The increase in average deposits reflected organic growth in new and existing customer relationships and inflows from the Union acquisition. The funding mix shifted slightly from year-ago quarter levels with non-interest-bearing deposits comprising 33% of total deposits at March 31, 2023, compared to 35% as of March 31, 2022, reflecting customers' preferences migrating toward time deposits in a higher interest rate environment.

Non-interest income totaled $79.4 million, an increase of $1.1 million, or 1.4%, compared to the first quarter of 2022. Wealth management totaled a record $18.0 million, increasing $2.0 million, or 12.2%, with strong transaction activity across the footprint. Service charges increased $1.1 million, or 3.6%, driven by treasury management services and interchange fees, offsetting the expected decline in overdraft and non-sufficient fund service charges from the overdraft practice changes that FNB implemented in the first quarter of 2023. Capital markets income totaled $6.8 million, a slight decrease of $0.3 million, or 4.7%, due to a decrease in swap fees that was partially offset by solid contributions from syndications, international banking, and debt capital markets income. Mortgage banking operations income decreased $1.8 million as secondary market revenue and mortgage held-for-sale pipelines declined from 2022 levels given the sharp increase in mortgage rates and adjustable-rate mortgage originations which we held in portfolio on the balance sheet.

Non-interest expense totaled $219.9 million, decreasing $7.5 million, or 3.3%. On an operating basis (non-GAAP), non-interest expense totaled $217.9 million, an increase of $23.2 million, or 11.9%, compared to the first quarter of 2022. Salaries and benefits increased $8.1 million, or 7.2%, due to annual merit increases, reduced salary deferrals given lower loan origination volumes and the addition of the acquired Howard and Union expense bases. Included in salaries and employee benefits in the first quarter of 2023 and 2022 were $6.7 million and $6.2 million, respectively, related to normal seasonal long-term compensation expense. Net occupancy and equipment increased $3.2 million, or 9.0%, primarily from the acquired Howard and Union expense bases, as well as technology-related investments. Outside services increased $2.4 million, or 13.9%, with higher volume-related technology and third-party costs, as well as the acquired Howard and Union expense bases. The efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) equaled 50.6%, compared to 60.7%, reflecting the strong operating leverage gained from higher revenue.

The ratio of non-performing loans and OREO to total loans and OREO decreased 2 basis points to 0.38%. Total delinquency decreased 6 basis points to 0.60%, compared to 0.66% at March 31, 2022, and continues to remain at a historically low level.

The provision for credit losses was $14.1 million, compared to $18.0 million in the first quarter of 2022. The provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2022 included $19.1 million of initial provision for non-purchase credit deteriorated (non-PCD) loans associated with the Howard acquisition. The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2023 was primarily due to loan growth, CECL-related model impacts from forecasted macroeconomic conditions, and charge-off activity. The first quarter of 2023 reflected net charge-offs of $13.2 million, or 0.18% annualized of total average loans, compared to $1.9 million, or 0.03% annualized, in the first quarter of 2022. While slightly elevated from the year-ago quarter, net charge-offs remain at historically low levels and utilized $7.9 million of previously-established specific reserves. The allowance for credit losses (ACL) was $403.4 million, an increase of $32.8 million, with the ratio of the ACL to total loans and leases decreasing 7 basis points to 1.32%, reflecting the strong loan growth.

The effective tax rate was 19.5%, compared to 20.9% in the first quarter of 2022, driven by higher deduction levels from employee stock compensation vesting.

The CET1 regulatory capital ratio was 10.0% (estimated) at both March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022. Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) was $8.66 at March 31, 2023, an increase of $0.57, or 7.0%, from $8.09 at March 31, 2022. AOCI reduced the current quarter tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) by $0.87, compared to a reduction of $0.57 at the end of the year-ago quarter, primarily due to the increase in unrealized losses on AFS securities resulting from the higher interest rate environment.

First Quarter 2023 Results – Comparison to Prior Quarter
(All comparisons refer to the fourth quarter of 2022, except as noted)

Net interest income totaled $336.7 million, an increase of $1.8 million, or 0.5%, from the prior quarter total of $334.9 million, primarily due to growth in average earning assets and benefits from the higher interest rate environment, partially offset by two fewer days in the quarter. The resulting net interest margin (FTE) (non-GAAP) increased 3 basis points to 3.56%, driven by higher yields on new loan originations, as well as the diligent management of deposit costs. The FOMC raised the target Federal Funds interest rate by a total of 50 basis points during the first quarter of 2023.

Total average earning assets increased $536.6 million, or 1.4%, to $38.6 billion. The total yield on earning assets (non-GAAP) increased 39 basis points to 4.68%, due to higher yields on loans, investment securities and interest-bearing deposits with banks. The total cost of funds increased 38 basis points to 1.18%, as the total cost of borrowings increased 52 basis points to 3.49% and the cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 52 basis points to 1.50%, partially offset by the contribution of non-interest bearing deposits.

Average loans and leases totaled $30.4 billion, an increase of $1.0 billion, or 3.6%, as average commercial loans and leases increased $795.4 million, or 4.3%, and average consumer loans increased $254.3 million, or 2.4%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2022. Average commercial loans and leases included growth of $534.1 million, or 4.9%, in commercial real estate and $268.8 million, or 3.9%, in commercial and industrial loans. The organic quarterly growth in commercial loans and leases was led by the Pittsburgh, Charlotte and South Carolina markets. Consumer loan growth reflected average residential mortgages increasing $290.3 million, or 5.7%, driven by organic loan origination activity, reflecting growth in adjustable-rate mortgages and the continued success of the Physicians First mortgage program, which was partially offset by average direct home equity installment loan balances decreasing $25.7 million, or 0.9%.

Average deposits totaled $34.2 billion, increasing $274.2 million, or 0.8%, with time deposits increasing $1.1 billion, or 33.6%, more than offsetting the decreases in interest-bearing demand deposits of $373.1 million, or 2.5%, non-interest-bearing deposits of $344.3 million, or 2.9%, and savings balances of $60.1 million, or 1.5%, reflecting the shift in customers' preferences to time deposit accounts. The loan-to-deposit ratio was 89.7% at March 31, 2023, compared to 87.0% at December 31, 2022, reflecting loan growth outpacing seasonally lower deposits in the first quarter of 2023.

Non-interest income totaled $79.4 million, a $1.2 million, or 1.5%, decrease from the prior quarter.   Capital markets income decreased $3.2 million, or 32.2%, due to lower syndications and swap fees compared to very strong levels in the fourth quarter of 2022. Service charges decreased $2.9 million, or 8.1%, reflecting normal seasonality and the expected decline in overdraft and non-sufficient fund service charges from the overdraft practice changes that FNB implemented in the first quarter of 2023. Insurance commissions and fees increased $3.3 million, or 72.8%, reflecting strong overall production in the first quarter, as well as seasonal growth. Mortgage banking operations income increased $2.1 million, or 79.1%, reflecting a 5% increase in sold mortgage volume and improved gain on sale margins. Wealth management increased $2.4 million, or 15.4%, to a record $18.0 million with an increase of 18.6% in securities commissions and fees and 13.2% in trust services.

Non-interest expense totaled $219.9 million, an increase of $8.8 million, or 4.2%. On an operating basis (non-GAAP), non-interest expense increased $22.1 million, or 11.3%, compared to the prior quarter. Salaries and employee benefits increased $16.7 million, or 16.1%, primarily due to normal seasonal long-term compensation expense of $6.7 million, as well as seasonally higher employer-paid payroll taxes, reduced salary deferrals given lower loan origination volumes, and the addition of the acquired Union expense base. Bank shares and franchise tax increased $2.1 million, or 105.4%, due to the recognition of state tax credits in the prior quarter. FDIC insurance increased $1.8 million, or 33.8%, reflecting the previously announced FDIC assessment rate increase which was effective in the first quarter of 2023. Amortization of intangibles increased $1.6 million, or 44.4%, related to the Union core deposit intangible. Other non-interest expense decreased $2.3 million, or 11.0%, primarily from charitable contributions that qualified for Pennsylvania bank shares tax credits in the fourth quarter of 2022. Marketing decreased $0.9 million, or 19.4%, due to the timing of digital advertising spend and campaigns. The efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) equaled 50.6%, compared to 45.8%, reflecting the seasonally higher operating expense levels.

The ratio of non-performing loans and OREO to total loans and OREO decreased 1 basis point to 0.38%. Total delinquency decreased 11 basis points to 0.60%, compared to 0.71% at December 31, 2022, remaining at historically low levels.

The provision for credit losses was $14.1 million, compared to $28.6 million, with the prior quarter reflecting $9.4 million of initial provision for non-PCD loans associated with the Union acquisition. The first quarter of 2023 reflected net charge-offs of $13.2 million, or 0.18% annualized of total average loans, compared to $11.9 million, or 0.16% annualized. The ACL was $403.4 million, an increase of $1.7 million, with the ratio of the ACL to total loans and leases stable at 1.32% at March 31, 2023, compared to 1.33% at December 31, 2022.

The effective tax rate was 19.5%, compared to 20.6% for the fourth quarter of 2022, driven by higher deduction levels from employee stock compensation vesting.

The CET1 regulatory capital ratio was 10.0% (estimated), increasing from 9.8% at December 31, 2022, benefiting from the strong retained earnings growth in the quarter. Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) was $8.66 at March 31, 2023, an increase of $0.39 per share from December 31, 2022. AOCI reduced the current quarter-end tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) by $0.87 reflecting unrealized losses on AFS securities caused by the higher interest rate environment, a $0.12 improvement compared to a reduction of $0.99 at the end of the prior quarter.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators
To supplement our Consolidated Financial Statements presented in accordance with GAAP, we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, such as operating net income available to common stockholders, operating earnings per diluted common share, return on average tangible equity, return on average tangible common equity, operating return on average tangible common equity, return on average tangible assets, tangible book value per common share, the ratio of tangible equity to tangible assets, the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets, pre-provision net revenue, efficiency ratio, and net interest margin (FTE) to provide information useful to investors in understanding our operating performance and trends, and to facilitate comparisons with the performance of our peers. Management uses these measures internally to assess and better understand our underlying business performance and trends related to core business activities. The non-GAAP financial measures and key performance indicators we use may differ from the non-GAAP financial measures and key performance indicators other financial institutions use to assess their performance and trends.

These non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as supplemental in nature, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, our reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. When non-GAAP financial measures are disclosed, the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Regulation G requires: (i) the presentation of the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and (ii) a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure presented and the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of non-GAAP operating measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included later in this release under the heading “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators to GAAP.”

Management believes items such as merger expenses and branch consolidation costs are not organic to run our operations and facilities. These items are considered significant items impacting earnings as they are deemed to be outside of ordinary banking activities. The merger expenses and branch consolidation costs principally represent expenses to satisfy contractual obligations of the acquired entity or closed branch without any useful ongoing benefit to us. These costs are specific to each individual transaction and may vary significantly based on the size and complexity of the transaction.

To facilitate peer comparisons of net interest margin and efficiency ratio, we use net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis in calculating net interest margin by increasing the interest income earned on tax-exempt assets (loans and investments) to make it fully equivalent to interest income earned on taxable investments (this adjustment is not permitted under GAAP). Taxable-equivalent amounts for the 2023 and 2022 periods were calculated using a federal statutory income tax rate of 21%.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This document may contain statements regarding F.N.B. Corporation’s outlook for earnings, revenues, expenses, tax rates, capital and liquidity levels and ratios, asset quality levels, financial position and other matters regarding or affecting our current or future business and operations. These statements can be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve various assumptions, risks and uncertainties which can change over time. Actual results or future events may be different from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements and may not align with historical performance and events. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance upon such statements. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "believe," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "outlook," "estimate," "forecast," "will," "should," "project," "goal," and other similar words and expressions. We do not assume any duty to update forward-looking statements, except as required by federal securities laws.

FNB’s forward-looking statements are subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties:

The risks identified here are not exclusive or the types of risks FNB may confront and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied as a result of these risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors and other uncertainties described under Item 1A Risk Factors and the Risk Management sections of our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent 2023 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (including the risk factors and risk management discussions) and our other 2023 filings with the SEC, which are available on our corporate website at https://www.fnb-online.com/about-us/investor-information/reports-and-filings or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. More specifically, our forward-looking statements may be subject to the evolving risks and uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its macro-economic impact and the resulting governmental, business and societal responses to it. We have included our web address as an inactive textual reference only. Information on our website is not part of our SEC filings.

Conference Call
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) announced the financial results for the first quarter of 2023 on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent J. Delie, Jr., Chief Financial Officer, Vincent J. Calabrese, Jr., and Chief Credit Officer, Gary L. Guerrieri, plan to host a conference call to discuss the Company’s financial results on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 8:30 AM ET.

Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call at https://dpregister.com/sreg/10176840/f8b054e198. Callers who pre-register will be provided a conference passcode and unique PIN to bypass the live operator and gain immediate access to the call. Participants may pre-register at any time, including up to and after the call start time.

Dial-in Access: The conference call may be accessed by dialing (844) 802-2440 (for domestic callers) or (412) 317-5133 (for international callers). Participants should ask to be joined into the F.N.B. Corporation call.

Webcast Access: The audio-only call and related presentation materials may be accessed via webcast through the “About Us” tab of the Corporation’s website at www.fnbcorporation.com and clicking on “Investor Relations” then “Investor Conference Calls.” Access to the live webcast will begin approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of the call.

Presentation Materials: Presentation slides and the earnings release will also be available on the Corporation’s website at www.fnbcorporation.com by accessing the “About Us” tab and clicking on “Investor Relations" then "Investor Conference Calls."

A replay of the call will be available shortly after the completion of the call until midnight ET on Friday, April 29, 2023. The replay can be accessed by dialing 877-344-7529 (for domestic callers) or 412-317-0088 (for international callers); the conference replay access code is 4795805. Following the call, a link to a replay of the webcast and the related presentation materials will be posted to the “Investor Relations” section of F.N.B. Corporation’s website at www.fnbcorporation.com.

About F.N.B. Corporation
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB’s market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina. The Company has total assets of more than $44 billion and approximately 350 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB's wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.

The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNB" and is included in Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.

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