F.N.B. Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings and Executes Balance Sheet Optimization Strategy

PRESS RELEASE

January 18, 2024 - Pittsburgh, PA

F.N.B. Corporation Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Earnings and Executes Balance Sheet Optimization Strategy
Full-Year Record Revenue and Tangible Book Value per Share Growth of 14.5%

F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) reported earnings for the fourth quarter of 2023 with net income available to common stockholders of $48.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted common share. Comparatively, fourth quarter of 2022 net income available to common stockholders totaled $137.5 million, or $0.38 per diluted common share, and third quarter of 2023 net income available to common stockholders totaled $143.3 million, or $0.40 per diluted common share. On an operating basis, fourth quarter of 2023 earnings per diluted common share (non-GAAP) was $0.38, excluding $114.0 million (pre-tax) of significant items impacting earnings. By comparison, the fourth quarter of 2022 was $0.44 per diluted common share (non-GAAP) on an operating basis, excluding $24.7 million (pre-tax) of significant items impacting earnings. The third quarter of 2023 was $0.40 per diluted common share (non-GAAP) on an operating basis.

For the full year of 2023, net income available to common stockholders was $476.8 million, or $1.31 per diluted common share. Comparatively, full-year 2022 net income available to common stockholders totaled $431.1 million, or $1.22 per diluted common share. On an operating basis, full-year 2023 earnings per diluted common share (non-GAAP) was $1.57, excluding $116.2 million (pre-tax) of significant items impacting earnings. Operating earnings per diluted common share (non-GAAP) for the full year of 2022 was $1.40, excluding $80.8 million (pre-tax) of significant items impacting earnings.

As part of its ongoing proactive balance sheet management strategy, FNB completed the sale of approximately $650 million of available-for-sale investment securities in mid-December and transferred $355 million of indirect auto loans to held-for-sale. The cumulative impact of these balance sheet actions has a tangible book value earn back period of less than one year, versus an earn back of five years for a stock buyback, an alternative use of capital, and earnings accretion that is significantly higher.

The sale of $650 million in available-for-sale investment securities resulted in a realized loss (pre-tax) of $67.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. We reinvested proceeds from the sale of those investment securities with an average yield of 1.08% into investment securities with yields approximately 350 basis points higher with a similar duration and convexity profile. We intend to sell $355 million of indirect auto loans which were classified as loans held-for-sale at December 31, 2023 with a negative valuation allowance of $16.7 million (pre-tax) recognized in other non-interest expense due primarily to changes in interest rates from time of origination. The sale of these loans is expected to close in the first quarter with the proceeds being used to repay borrowings that have a similar yield to the sold loans. The transfer to held-for-sale benefited the loan-to-deposit ratio by approximately 100 basis points.

“F.N.B. Corporation has again delivered exceptional performance with full year operating earnings totaling a record $1.57 per diluted common share (non-GAAP), record revenue of $1.6 billion and tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) growth of $1.20, or 14.5%, year-over-year to an all-time high of $9.47,” said F.N.B. Corporation Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vincent J. Delie, Jr. “As part of our ongoing proactive balance sheet management strategy, we took several actions during the quarter to enhance our future profitability and capital positioning. These balance sheet actions are expected to generate additional net interest income and margin, modestly increase the tangible common equity to tangible asset ratio and improve capital generation as we enter 2024. In relation to our digital technology, we will continue to invest in our proprietary eStore^® platform and associated Common application which eliminates keystrokes, provides a portal to upload supporting documents and automates account funding. With our resilient balance sheet, consistent underwriting and focus on our investments to drive new client acquisition, we are poised to gain market share and maintain a balanced, well-positioned portfolio throughout economic cycles.”

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights
(All comparisons refer to the fourth 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.}

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

Net interest income totaled $324.0 million, a decrease of $10.9 million, or 3.2%, compared to $334.9 million, primarily due to higher deposit costs and migration to higher yielding deposit products, as well as higher total average borrowings and costs, partially offset by growth in earning assets and higher earning asset yields. Total average earning assets increased $2.4 billion, or 6.4%, including a $2.9 billion increase in average loans and leases primarily from organic origination activity. Total average borrowings increased $1.7 billion due to maintaining additional liquidity on the balance sheet following the banking industry disruption earlier in 2023.

The net interest margin (FTE) (non-GAAP) decreased 32 basis points to 3.21%, as the total cost of funds increased 134 basis points to 2.14% with a 167 basis point increase in interest-bearing deposit costs to 2.65%, as well as an increase of 67 basis points in long-term debt costs. Total cumulative spot deposit beta since the current interest rate increases began in March of 2022, equaled 34.3% at year-end 2023  which is consistent with our expectations. The yield on earning assets (non-GAAP) increased 96 basis points to 5.25%, primarily due to higher yields on loans, investment securities and interest-bearing deposits with banks reflecting the higher interest rate environment. Between December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2023, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the target Federal Funds interest rate by 100 basis points.

Average loans and leases totaled $32.3 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion, or 9.9%, including growth of $1.7 billion in commercial loans and leases and $1.3 billion in consumer loans. The increase in average commercial loans and leases included $986.0 million, or 9.0%, growth in commercial real estate and $551.8 million, or 8.0%, growth in commercial and industrial loans, driven primarily by organic growth across the footprint, including the Pittsburgh, Charlotte and Cleveland markets, as well as the UB Bancorp (Union) acquisition in December 2022. The increase in average consumer loans included a $1.4 billion increase in residential mortgages largely reflecting adjustable-rate mortgages which we retained on the balance sheet and the continued success of the Physicians First mortgage program.

Average deposits totaled $34.4 billion, with growth in average time deposits of $2.7 billion, more than offsetting the decline in average non-interest-bearing demand deposits of $1.3 billion, average savings deposits of $552.1 million and average interest-bearing demand deposits of $297.8 million as customers continued to migrate balances into higher-yielding products. The increase in average total deposits of $486.9 million, or 1.4%, resulted from organic growth in new and existing customer relationships as well as the Union acquisition in December 2022. The funding mix has shifted compared to the year-ago quarter with non-interest-bearing deposits comprising 29.4% of total deposits at December 31, 2023, compared to 34.3% a year ago.

Non-interest income totaled $13.1 million, compared to $80.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. On an operating basis (non-GAAP), the fourth quarter of 2023 non-interest income totaled $80.4 million, when adjusting for the $67.4 million realized loss (pre-tax) on the investment securities restructuring. Mortgage banking operations income increased $4.3 million driven by improved gain on sale margins aided by the decline in mortgage rates during the fourth quarter of 2023. Wealth management revenues increased $1.9 million, or 12.1%, as trust income and securities commissions and fees increased 14.4% and 8.5%, respectively, through contributions across the geographic footprint and an increase in assets under management on a year-over-year basis. Capital markets income totaled $7.3 million, a decrease of $2.7 million, or 26.6%, as commercial customer transactions have slowed in this macroeconomic environment.

Non-interest expense totaled $265.6 million, increasing $54.4 million, or 25.8%. When adjusting for $46.6 million of significant items in the fourth quarter of 2023 and $15.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2022, non-interest expense totaled $218.9 million, an increase of $23.1 million, or 11.8%, on an operating basis (non-GAAP). Salaries and benefits increased $10.6 million, or 10.2%, primarily from the addition of acquired Union employees, production-related commissions and normal annual merit increases. Net occupancy and equipment increased $3.6 million, or 9.3%, largely from the acquired Union expense base and technology-related investments. Outside services increased $3.5 million, or 17.8%, with higher volume-related technology and third-party costs, including the impact of the inflationary macroeconomic environment. Excluding the $29.9 million FDIC special assessment, FDIC insurance expense increased $2.5 million, due to the previously announced FDIC assessment rate increase which was effective in the first quarter of 2023. The efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) remained at a favorable level of 52.5%.

The ratio of non-performing loans and OREO to total loans and OREO decreased 5 basis points to 0.34%. Total delinquency decreased 1 basis point to 0.70%, compared to 0.71% at December 31, 2022. Both measures continue to remain at historically low levels.

The provision for credit losses was $13.2 million, compared to $28.6 million as the prior year amount included $9.4 million of initial provision for non-purchase credit deteriorated (non-PCD) loans associated with the Union acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2022. The fourth quarter of 2023 reflected net charge-offs of $8.2 million, or 0.10% annualized of total average loans, compared to $11.9 million, or 0.16% annualized. The allowance for credit losses (ACL) was $405.6 million, an increase of $3.9 million, with the ratio of the ACL to total loans and leases decreasing 8 basis points to 1.25% reflecting net loan growth and charge-off activity.

The effective tax rate was 13.1%, compared to 20.6% in the fourth quarter of 2022, primarily due to lower pre-tax income levels given the impact of the significant items and additional renewable energy investment tax credit benefits recognized in the fourth quarter of 2023 as part of a solar project financing transaction closed in the third quarter of 2023.

The CET1 regulatory capital ratio was 10.1% (estimated) at December 31, 2023 and 9.8% at December 31, 2022. Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) was $9.47 at December 31, 2023, an increase of $1.20, or 14.5%, from $8.27 at December 31, 2022. AOCI reduced the current quarter tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) by $0.65, compared to a reduction of $0.99 at the end of the year-ago quarter, largely due to unrealized losses on AFS securities resulting from the higher interest rate environment.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Results – Comparison to Prior Quarter
(All comparisons refer to the third quarter of 2023, except as noted)

Net interest income totaled $324.0 million, a slight decrease of $2.6 million, or 0.8%, from the prior quarter total of $326.6 million, primarily due to higher deposit costs and continued migration to higher yielding deposit products, as well as higher total average borrowings, largely offset by growth in earning assets and higher earning asset yields. Total average earning assets increased $327.4 million, or 0.8%, to $40.5 billion. The total yield on earning assets (non-GAAP) increased 14 basis points to 5.25%, due to higher yields on loans and investment securities. The total cost of funds increased 21 basis points to 2.14%, as the cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 29 basis points to 2.65% and the total cost of borrowings increased 9 basis points to 4.57%. The resulting net interest margin (FTE) (non-GAAP) decreased 5 basis points to 3.21%.

Average loans and leases totaled $32.3 billion, an increase of $528.0 million, or 6.6% annualized, as commercial loans and leases increased $313.6 million, or 6.2% annualized, and consumer loans increased $214.4 million, or 7.2% annualized. Average commercial loans and leases was led by growth of $183.8 million, or 1.6%, in commercial real estate loans and $116.9 million, or 1.6%, in commercial and industrial loans. The organic quarterly growth in commercial loans and leases was led by the central Pennsylvania and Cleveland markets. Consumer loan growth includes average residential mortgages increasing $269.2 million, or 17.1% annualized, driven by growth in adjustable-rate mortgages partially offset by indirect auto loans decreasing $60.8 million, or 15.8% annualized, due to the partial quarter's impact of the transfer of $355 million of indirect auto loans to loans held-for-sale.

Average deposits totaled $34.4 billion, increasing $280.6 million, or 3.3% annualized, led by an increase of $673.8 million, or 19.1% annualized, in average interest-bearing demand deposits and $101.2 million, or 7.0% annualized, in average certificates of deposit. These increases were partially offset by non-interest-bearing deposits declining $349.7 million, or 12.9% annualized, and savings balances declining $144.6 million, or 15.6% annualized, resulting from the shift in customers' preferences to higher-yielding deposit products. The mix of non-interest-bearing deposits to total deposits was 29.4% at December 31, 2023, compared to 30.9%. The loan-to-deposit ratio was 93.1% at December 31, 2023, stable compared to 92.9%.

Non-interest income totaled $13.1 million, compared to $81.6 million in the prior quarter. On an operating basis (non-GAAP), the fourth quarter of 2023 non-interest income totaled $80.4 million, when adjusting by $67.4 million for the realized loss (pre-tax) on the investment securities restructuring. Mortgage banking operations income increased $3.1 million, or 79.3%, due to improved gain on sale margins aided by the decline in mortgage rates in the fourth quarter. Other non-interest income declined $2.4 million, or 51.3%, as Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) funds income decreased, reflecting normal fluctuations based on the performance of the underlying portfolio companies.

Non-interest expense totaled $265.6 million compared to $218.0 million in the prior quarter. When adjusting for $46.6 million of significant items in the fourth quarter of 2023, non-interest expense increased $0.9 million, or 0.4%, on an operating basis (non-GAAP). Outside services increased $2.4 million, or 11.3%, driven by higher third-party costs. Bank shares and franchise taxes declined $2.3 million, or 59.7%, from charitable contributions that qualified for Pennsylvania bank shares tax credits. Marketing expenses decreased $1.2 million, or 21.5%, due to the timing of digital marketing campaigns in the prior quarter. The efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) equaled 52.5%, compared to 51.7%.

The ratio of non-performing loans and OREO to total loans and OREO decreased 2 basis points to 0.34% and delinquency totaled 0.70%, a 7 basis point increase. Both measures continue to remain at historically low levels. The provision for credit losses was $13.2 million, compared to $25.9 million that included $18.8 million of provision for a $31.9 million commercial loan that was downgraded to non-performing status in the second quarter of 2023 and fully charged-off during the third quarter of 2023 due to alleged fraud. The fourth quarter of 2023 reflected net charge-offs of $8.2 million, or 0.10% annualized of total average loans, compared to $37.7 million, or 0.47% annualized. The ACL was $405.6 million, an increase of $4.9 million, with the ratio of the ACL to total loans and leases totaling 1.25% at both December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023.

The effective tax rate was 13.1%, compared to 11.5%, with both periods lower than statutory rates due to renewable energy investment tax credit benefits as part of a solar project financing transaction closed in the prior quarter. The current quarter was also impacted by lower pre-tax income levels given the significant items in the current quarter.

The CET1 regulatory capital ratio was 10.1% (estimated), a slight decrease from 10.2% at September 30, 2023. Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) was $9.47 at December 31, 2023, an increase of $0.45 per share. AOCI reduced the current quarter-end tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) by $0.65 compared to a reduction of $1.06 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 (reported), operating 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, FDIC special assessment, loss on securities restructuring, valuation allowance on auto loans held-for-sale, initial provision for non-PCD loans acquired 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. 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:

Conference Call
F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) announced the financial results for the fourth quarter of 2023 on Thursday, January 18, 2024. 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 Friday, January 19, 2024, at 8:30 AM ET.

Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the conference call at https://dpregister.com/sreg/10185213/fb43cc2457. 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, January 26, 2024. 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 8846416. Following the call, a link to 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 over $46 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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