EX-99.2 3 ex_564939.htm EXHIBIT 99.2 ex_564939.htm

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

 

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

This management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) of operations and financial condition for the third quarter of fiscal 2023, dated August 28, 2023, should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the period ended July 31, 2023, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). This MD&A should also be read in conjunction with VersaBank’s MD&A and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended October 31, 2022, which are available on VersaBank’s website at www.versabank.com, SEDAR at www.sedar.com and EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Except as discussed below, all other factors discussed and referred to in the MD&A for the year ended October 31, 2022, remain substantially unchanged. All currency amounts in this document are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

 

 


 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

2

About VersaBank

3

Overview of Performance

4

Selected Financial Highlights

7

Business Outlook

8

Financial Review  Earnings

12

Financial Review  Balance Sheet

18

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

29

Related Party Transactions

29

Capital Management and Capital Resources

30

Results of Operating Segments

32

Summary of Quarterly Results

34

Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

35

Significant Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates and Judgements

37

Controls and Procedures

38

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 1

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

VersaBank’s public communications often include written or oral forward-looking statements. Statements of this type are included in this document and may be included in other filings and with Canadian securities regulators or the US Securities and Exchange Commission, or in other communications. All such statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of, and are intended to be forward-looking statements under, the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and any applicable Canadian securities legislation. The statements in this management’s discussion and analysis that relate to the future are forward-looking statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, many of which are out of VersaBank’s control. Risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the strength of the Canadian and US economy in general and the strength of the local economies within Canada and the US in which VersaBank conducts operations; the effects of changes in monetary and fiscal policy, including changes in interest rate policies of the Bank of Canada and the US Federal Reserve; global commodity prices; the effects of competition in the markets in which VersaBank operates; inflation; capital market fluctuations; the timely development and introduction of new products in receptive markets; the impact of changes in the laws and regulations pertaining to financial services; changes in tax laws; technological changes; unexpected judicial or regulatory proceedings; unexpected changes in consumer spending and savings habits; the impact of wars or conflicts including the crisis in Ukraine and the impact of the crisis on global supply chains and markets; the impact of potential new variants of COVID-19; the possible effects on our business of terrorist activities; natural disasters and disruptions to public infrastructure, such as transportation, communications, power or water supply; and VersaBank’s anticipation of and success in managing the risks implicated by the foregoing. For a detailed discussion of certain key factors that may affect VersaBank’s future results, please see VersaBank’s annual MD&A for the year ended October 31, 2022.

 

The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The forward-looking information contained in the management’s discussion and analysis is presented to assist VersaBank shareholders and others in understanding VersaBank’s financial position and may not be appropriate for any other purposes. Except as required by securities law, VersaBank does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is contained in this management’s discussion and analysis or made from time to time by VersaBank or on its behalf.

 

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 2

 

About VersaBank

 

VersaBank (the “Bank”) adopted an electronic branchless model in 1993, becoming the world’s first branchless financial institution and obtains its deposits and the majority of its loans and leases digitally. It holds a Canadian Schedule 1 chartered bank licence and is regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (“OSFI”). In addition to its core Digital Banking operations, VersaBank has established cybersecurity services and banking and financial technology development operations through its wholly owned subsidiary, DRT Cyber Inc. (“DRTC”). VersaBank’s Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and Nasdaq under the symbol VBNK. Its Series 1 Preferred Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VBNK.PR.A.

 

VersaBank is focused on increasing earnings by concentrating on underserved markets that support more attractive pricing for its products, leveraging existing distribution channels to deliver its financial products to these chosen markets and expanding its diverse deposit gathering network that provides efficient access to a range of low-cost deposit sources in order to maintain a low cost of funds.

 

The underlying drivers of VersaBank’s performance trends for the current and comparative periods are set out in the following sections of this MD&A.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 3

 

Overview of Performance

 

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* See definition in the "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section below.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

► 

Loans increased 7% to $3.66 billion, driven primarily by continued strong growth in the Bank’s Point-of-Sale Loans and Leases (“POS Financing”) portfolio, which increased 9%;

Total revenue increased 1% to $26.9 million and was comprised of net interest income of $24.9 million and non-interest income of $1.9 million, the latter derived primarily from the revenue contribution of DRT Cyber Inc., (“DRTC”), which includes the gross margin generated by its cybersecurity component Digital Boundary Group’s cybersecurity services business;

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 4

 

► 

Net interest margin (NIM) on loans decreased 30 bps to 2.69% due primarily to higher rates paid on term deposits during the quarter amidst temporarily elevated rates in the term deposit market in Canada, which were impacted by the period of liquidity concerns related to the US banking sector. NIM decreased 21 bps to 2.57%;

Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average loans was 0.02% compared to 0.03% last quarter with the trend attributable primarily to changes in the forward-looking information used by VersaBank in its credit risk models and changes in the Bank’s lending asset mix;

► 

Non-interest expenses increased 1% to $12.9 million as a function primarily of higher professional fees attributable to the continuing regulatory approval process associated with VersaBank’s acquisition of a US bank and seasonal corporate activities specific to the quarter, offset partially by lower salary and benefits amounts attributable to estimates associated with performance-based obligations;

Efficiency ratio for the Digital Banking operations (excluding DRTC) was unchanged at 43%;

► 

Net income before taxes increased 1% as a function of higher revenue attributable primarily to strong loan growth and cost control which resulted in non-interest expenses remaining essentially flat this quarter;

Net income decreased 3% to $10.0 million attributable to the impact of a $530,000 deferred tax asset recognized in the previous quarter associated with DRTC’s non-capital loss carryforwards; and,

Earnings per share (“EPS”) was unchanged at $0.38 per share, benefitting from a lower number of common shares outstanding in the current quarter as a result of the purchase and cancellation of common shares under the Bank’s Normal Course Issuer Bid (“NCIB”).

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

► 

Loans increased 30% to $3.66 billion, driven primarily by strong growth in the POS Financing portfolio, which increased 39%;

Total revenue increased 26%, driven by higher net interest income attributable substantially to strong loan growth and higher non-interest income derived primarily from the revenue contribution of DRTC;

► 

NIM on loans decreased 38 bps due to higher cost of funds attributable primarily to higher rates paid on term deposits during the quarter amidst temporarily elevated rates in the term deposit market in Canada, which were impacted by the period of liquidity concerns related to the US banking sector and a shift in the Bank’s funding mix, offset partially by higher yields earned on the Bank’s lending assets;

Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average loans was 0.02% compared to 0.03% last year with the trend attributable primarily to changes in the forward-looking information used by VersaBank in its credit risk models, offset partially by changes in the Bank’s lending asset mix;

► 

Non-interest expenses decreased 3% as a function primarily of lower capital tax expense attributable to a shift in the provincial allocation of the Bank’s loan and deposit originations and lower insurance premiums relative to the premiums paid during the comparative period attributable to VersaBank’s listing on the Nasdaq in September 2021, offset partially by higher salary and benefits expense attributable to higher staffing levels to support expanded business activity across VersaBank and higher costs attributable to the continuing regulatory approval process associated with VersaBank’s acquisition of a US bank;

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 5

 

Efficiency ratio for Digital Banking operations (excluding DRTC) improved to 43% attributable to revenue growth (25%) and a decline in non-interest expenses (6%) over the same period; and,

► 

Net income and EPS increased 75% and 90% as a function primarily of higher revenue and lower non-interest expenses. The EPS trend was also impacted by the common shares that were purchased and cancelled through the Bank’s NCIB.

 

Q3 YTD 2023 vs Q3 YTD 2022

 

► 

Loans increased 30% to $3.66 billion, driven by strong growth in the POS Financing portfolio, which increased 39% during the period;

Total revenue increased 37%, driven primarily by higher net interest income attributable substantially to strong loan growth as well as higher non-interest income derived primarily from the revenue contribution of DRTC and NIM expansion;

► 

NIM on loans decreased 15 bps attributable primarily to a shift in the Bank’s funding mix, while NIM increased 8 bps due primarily to higher yields earned on the Bank’s lending assets, offset partially by higher cost of funds;

Provision for credit losses as a percentage of average loans was 0.03% compared to 0.01% a year ago attributable primarily to lending asset growth and changes in the forward-looking information used by VersaBank in its credit risk models, offset partially by changes in the Bank’s lending asset mix;

► 

Non-interest expenses increased 7% as a function primarily of higher salary and benefits amounts attributable to higher staffing levels to support expanded business activity across the Bank, higher general annual compensation adjustments and higher professional fees attributable to the continuing regulatory approval process associated with the Bank’s acquisition of a US bank, offset partially by lower capital tax expense and lower insurance premiums relative to the premiums paid during the comparative period;

Efficiency ratio for Digital Banking operations (excluding DRTC) improved to 43% as a function of revenue growth (37%) outpacing non-interest expense growth (2%) over the same period; and,

Net income and EPS increased 83% and 96% respectively as a function primarily of higher revenue offset partially by higher non-interest expenses. The EPS trend was also impacted by the purchase and cancellation of common shares under the Bank’s NCIB.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 6

 

Selected Financial Highlights

(unaudited)

 

for the three months ended

   

for the nine months ended

 
   

July 31

   

July 31

   

July 31

   

July 31

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts)

 

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Results of operations

                               

Interest income

  $ 60,089     $ 34,177     $ 163,245     $ 84,745  

Net interest income

    24,929       20,062       73,812       54,189  

Non-interest income

    1,930       1,177       5,650       3,951  

Total revenue

    26,859       21,239       79,462       58,140  

Provision for credit losses

    171       166       793       246  

Non-interest expenses

    12,879       13,216       37,940       35,619  

Digital Banking

    10,758       11,427       31,600       30,936  

DRTC

    2,312       1,830       6,914       4,807  

Net income

    10,003       5,720       29,683       16,229  

Income per common share:

                               

Basic

  $ 0.38     $ 0.20     $ 1.10     $ 0.56  

Diluted

  $ 0.38     $ 0.20     $ 1.10     $ 0.56  

Dividends paid on preferred shares

  $ 247     $ 247     $ 741     $ 741  

Dividends paid on common shares

  $ 648     $ 687     $ 1,962     $ 2,061  

Yield*

    6.19 %     4.70 %     6.02 %     4.13 %

Cost of funds*

    3.62 %     1.94 %     3.30 %     1.49 %

Net interest margin*

    2.57 %     2.76 %     2.72 %     2.64 %

Net interest margin on loans*

    2.69 %     3.07 %     2.89 %     3.04 %

Return on average common equity*

    11.15 %     6.57 %     11.24 %     6.36 %

Book value per common share*

  $ 13.55     $ 12.14     $ 13.55     $ 12.14  

Efficiency ratio*

    48 %     62 %     48 %     61 %

Efficiency ratio - Digital Banking*

    43 %     57 %     43 %     57 %

Return on average total assets*

    1.00 %     0.75 %     1.07 %     0.75 %

Provision for credit losses as a % of average loans*

    0.02 %     0.03 %     0.03 %     0.01 %
   

as at

 

Balance Sheet Summary

                               

Cash

  $ 87,726     $ 84,214     $ 87,726     $ 84,214  

Securities

    182,944       133,682       182,944       133,682  

Loans, net of allowance for credit losses

    3,661,672       2,814,121       3,661,672       2,814,121  

Average loans

    3,540,564       2,632,199       3,327,175       2,458,586  

Total assets

    3,980,845       3,075,343       3,980,845       3,075,343  

Deposits

    3,328,017       2,475,063       3,328,017       2,475,063  

Subordinated notes payable

    101,585       98,706       101,585       98,706  

Shareholders' equity

    365,043       346,648       365,043       346,648  

Capital ratios**

                               

Risk-weighted assets

  $ 3,047,172     $ 2,568,678     $ 3,047,172     $ 2,568,678  

Common Equity Tier 1 capital

    339,894       321,386       339,894       321,386  

Total regulatory capital

    460,065       437,912       460,065       437,912  

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio

    11.15 %     12.51 %     11.15 %     12.51 %

Tier 1 capital ratio

    11.60 %     13.04 %     11.60 %     13.04 %

Total capital ratio

    15.10 %     17.05 %     15.10 %     17.05 %

Leverage ratio

    8.53 %     10.38 %     8.53 %     10.38 %

* See definition in "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section below.

** Capital management and leverage measures are in accordance with OSFI's Capital Adequacy Requirements and Basel III Accord.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 7

 

Business Outlook

 

VersaBank is active in underserved banking markets in Canada and the US in which its innovative, value added digital banking products command more attractive pricing for its lending products, and further, continues to develop and expand its diverse deposit gathering network that provides efficient access to a range of low-cost deposit sources. In addition, VersaBank remains highly committed to, and focused on, further developing and enhancing its technology advantage, a key component of its value proposition that not only provides efficient access to VersaBank’s chosen underserved lending and deposit markets, but also delivers superior financial products and better customer service to its clients.

 

Management continues to monitor geo-political, economic and financial market risk precipitated by the conflict in Ukraine, as well as recent events in the US banking sector and the potential impact on VersaBank’s business. At this time, management has not identified any material direct or indirect risk exposure to VersaBank resulting from the conflict or the challenges experienced by the US banking sector in early calendar 2023 and will continue to assess the relevant data and information as it becomes available.

 

While VersaBank does not provide guidance on specific performance metrics, the commentary provided below discusses aspects of VersaBank’s business and certain anticipated trends related to same that, in management’s view, could potentially impact future performance.

 

Pending acquisition of Stearns Bank Holdingford

 

► 

The Bank continues to advance the process seeking approval of its proposed acquisition of OCC-chartered US bank, Stearns Bank Holdingford N.A., and expects a decision with respect to approval of its application from US regulators during autumn 2023.  If favourable, the Bank will proceed toward completion of the acquisition as soon as possible, subject to Canadian regulatory (OSFI) approval.

 

Lending Assets

 

Canadian Point-of-Sale Financing: Consumer spending and business investment in Canada are expected to slow during the last quarter of 2023 due primarily to the impact of higher interest rates; however, the economic slowdown is expected to be short lived, with only modest layoffs and a moderate increase in unemployment. It remains management’s view that any impact of a slower economy on the POS Financing portfolio over the remainder of fiscal 2023 will be substantially outweighed by the impact of onboarding new origination partners and the continued expansion of business with existing partners. Considering the above and combined with what is historically a seasonally stronger period for the POS Financing business, management expects POS portfolio growth in the second half of 2023 to be moderately higher than growth achieved in the first half of the year;

   

US Receivable Purchase Program (“RPP”): Despite higher interest rates, stubborn inflation and high energy prices in the US, the US labour market remains strong evidenced by continued, healthy job and wage growth which, combined with the expectation that the federal funds rate is at or nearing the peak of the Federal Reserve’s tightening cycle will continue to support healthy consumer spending. Management views the current trajectory of the US economy to be favourable in the context of continued, stable demand for durable goods, which is expected to continue to drive demand for transportation and manufacturing equipment purchases. Additionally, despite high mortgage rates, record-low levels of available inventory of new homes is expected to continue to stimulate single-family home construction which in turn is anticipated to support demand for construction equipment in the near term. Management believes that the anticipated US macroeconomic and industry trends described above will continue to support growth in the Bank’s RPP portfolio through the remainder of fiscal 2023; and,

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 8

 

Commercial Real Estate (Business-to-Business Loans with Credit Risk Exposure Predominantly Related to Residential Properties): Management anticipates modest deceleration in the growth of its residential construction and term financing products. Notwithstanding the effective risk mitigation strategies that are employed in managing the Bank’s Commercial Real Estate (“CRE”) portfolios, including working with well-established, well-capitalized partners and maintaining modest loan-to-value ratios on individual transactions, management continues to take a cautionary stance with respect to its broader CRE portfolios due to the anticipation of volatility in CRE asset valuations in the current and anticipated interest rate environment and the potential impact of same on borrowers’ ability to service debt, as well as due to concerns related to inflation and higher input costs, which continue to have the potential to drive higher construction costs.

 

Credit Quality

 

VersaBank lends to underserved markets that support more attractive pricing for its lending products but typically exhibit a lower-than-average risk profile generally as a function of the lower inherent risk associated with the underlying collateral assets and/or the structure of VersaBank’s offered financing arrangements;

 

Based on available forward-looking macroeconomic and industry data as well as the Bank’s historical credit experience, current underwriting governance, and general expectations for credit performance management anticipates that credit risk in its portfolio may continue to increase modestly over the remainder of fiscal 2023 as a function primarily of a prolonged, elevated interest rate environment in both Canada and the US, the ability of consumers and businesses to service debt in such an environment as well as the effect of elevated inflation in both Canada and the US. Notwithstanding the above, the anticipated economic slowdown attributable primarily to both higher rates and inflation is expected to be short lived and potentially result in only modest layoffs and a moderate increase in unemployment with higher wages and what remains of consumer savings supporting households in adjusting to higher interest payments without eradicating spending. Further, management expects that the lower risk profile of VersaBank’s unique business to business lending portfolio, which is a function of VersaBank’s prudent underwriting practices, structured lending products and focus on underserved financing markets within which it has a wealth of experience, will contribute to mitigating any escalation in forward credit risk in the Bank’s lending portfolio; and,

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 9

 

VersaBank has sourced credit risk modeling systems and forecast macroeconomic scenario data from Moody’s Analytics, a third-party service provider, for the purpose of computing forward-looking credit risk parameters under multiple macroeconomic scenarios that consider both market-wide and idiosyncratic factors and influences. These credit risk modeling systems are used in conjunction with VersaBank’s internally developed expected credit loss (“ECL”) models. Given that the Bank has experienced very limited historical losses and, therefore, does not have available statistically significant loss data inventory for use in developing internal, forward looking expected credit loss trends, the use of unbiased, third-party forward-looking credit risk parameter modeling systems is particularly important for the Bank in the context of the estimation of expected credit losses.

 

Funding and Liquidity

 

Management expects that commercial deposit volumes raised via VersaBank’s Trustee Integrated Banking (“TIB”) program will continue to grow over the remainder of fiscal 2023 as a function of increased volumes of consumer and commercial bankruptcy and proposal restructuring proceedings, attributable primarily to the impact of a higher interest rate environment and sticky inflation. In addition, VersaBank continues to pursue a number of initiatives to grow and expand its well-established, diverse deposit broker network through which it sources personal deposits, consisting primarily of guaranteed investment certificates. The Bank’s current deposit channels remain an efficient, reliable and diversified source of funding providing ample access to reasonably priced deposits in volumes that comfortably support the Bank’s liquidity requirements. Substantially all of the Bank’s deposit volumes raised through these channels are eligible for CDIC insurance;

 

Management anticipates that liquidity levels will remain reasonably consistent over the remainder of fiscal 2023 as the Bank continues to fund anticipated balance sheet growth across each of its lines of business. Further, management will continue to deploy cash into low risk, government securities with the objective of earning a more favourable yield on its available liquidity; and,

 

Management believes that VersaBank has one of the lowest liquidity risk profiles among North American banks attributable to the quality, stability and stickiness of its deposit base.  All of VersaBank’s deposits are sourced through existing, third-party distribution channels, specifically wealth management firms that distribute the Bank’s term deposit products and Trustee in Bankruptcy firms that distribute the Bank’s demand and term deposit products. The Bank does not accept deposits directly from individuals and does not offer high interest-bearing demand deposit products that are accessible to the public via the internet.

 

Earnings and Capital

 

Earnings growth in the remainder of fiscal 2023 is expected to be a function primarily of anticipated organic balance sheet growth from Digital Banking operations, specifically attributable to the Bank’s POS Financing and RPP businesses in Canada and the US respectively as well as incremental earnings contributions from DRTC;

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 10

 

Net interest income growth for fiscal 2023 is expected to be a function primarily of growth in VersaBank’s POS and RPP businesses in Canada and the US respectively, disciplined liquidity management and the expectation that growth in the TIB program over the remainder of fiscal 2023 and further expansion of the Bank’s diverse deposit broker network will have a favourable impact on cost of funds;

 

Non-interest income growth for fiscal 2023 is expected to be a function primarily of DRTC revenue growth derived from its suite of cybersecurity services;

 

VersaBank’s capital ratios remain comfortably in excess of regulatory minimums. Management is of the view that VersaBank’s current capital levels are sufficient to accommodate balance sheet growth contemplated for fiscal 2023. Notwithstanding the above, management will continue to closely monitor the capital markets to identify opportunities for VersaBank to raise additional regulatory capital on attractive terms in order to position VersaBank to support a potentially more robust growth profile in the future;

 

Management does not anticipate increasing VersaBank’s dividends over the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 to ensure that it continues to have adequate regulatory capital available to support contemplated balance sheet growth as well as specific business development initiatives for earnings growth currently contemplated over the same timeframe and remain in compliance with its established regulatory capital ratio targets and thresholds; and,

 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, VersaBank received approval from the TSX and Nasdaq to proceed with a NCIB for its common shares through which the Bank may purchase for cancellation up to 1,700,000 of its common shares, representing approximately 9.54% of its public float. The Bank had purchased and cancelled 1,516,658 shares under the NCIB as at July 31, 2023.

 

There is potential that VersaBank may not realize or achieve the anticipated performance trends set out above as a function of a number of factors and variables including, but not limited to, the strength of the Canadian and US economies in general and the strength of the local economies in which VersaBank conducts operations; the effects of changes in monetary and fiscal policy, including changes in the interest rate policies of the Bank of Canada and the US Federal Reserve; global commodity prices; the effects of competition in the markets in which VersaBank operates; inflation; capital market fluctuations; the timely development and introduction of new products in receptive markets; the ability of VersaBank to grow its business and execute its strategy in the US market; the impact of changes in the laws and regulations regulating financial services; the impact of wars or conflicts including the crisis in Ukraine; the recent events in the US banking sector; and the impact of potential new variants of COVID-19 or a new pandemic-causing virus on the global economy. Please see “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” on page 2 of this MD&A.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 11

 

Financial Review Earnings

 

Total Revenue

 

Total revenue, which consists of net interest income and non-interest income increased 1% to $26.9 million compared to the last quarter and increased 26% compared to the same period a year ago. Total revenue for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 increased 37% to $79.5 million compared to the same period a year ago.

 

Net Interest Income

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                                               
   

For the three months ended:

   

For the nine months ended:

 
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

           

July 31

   

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

   

2023

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                                                 

Interest income

                                                               

Point-of-sale loans and leases

  $ 38,013     $ 34,257       11 %   $ 21,132       80 %   $ 104,230     $ 51,591       102 %

Commercial real estate mortgages

    17,705       15,958       11 %     11,665       52 %     48,073       30,590       57 %

Commercial real estate loans

    161       166       (3 %)     181       (11 %)     503       552       (9 %)

Public sector and other financing

    327       323       1 %     187       75 %     959       418       129 %

Other

    3,883       2,891       34 %     1,012       284 %     9,480       1,594       495 %

Interest income

  $ 60,089     $ 53,595       12 %   $ 34,177       76 %   $ 163,245     $ 84,745       93 %
                                                                 

Interest expense

                                                               

Deposit and other

  $ 33,725     $ 27,534       22 %   $ 12,727       165 %   $ 85,100     $ 26,435       222 %

Subordinated notes

    1,435       1,452       (1 %)     1,388       3 %     4,333       4,121       5 %

Interest expense

  $ 35,160     $ 28,986       21 %   $ 14,115       149 %   $ 89,433     $ 30,556       193 %
                                                                 

Net interest income

  $ 24,929     $ 24,609       1 %   $ 20,062       24 %   $ 73,812     $ 54,189       36 %
                                                                 

Non-interest income

  $ 1,930     $ 2,076       (7 %)   $ 1,177       64 %   $ 5,650     $ 3,951       43 %
                                                                 

Total revenue

  $ 26,859     $ 26,685       1 %   $ 21,239       26 %   $ 79,462     $ 58,140       37 %

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

Net interest income increased 1% to $24.9 million as a function primarily of:

 

Higher interest income earned on higher lending asset balances; and,

Redeployment of available cash into higher yielding, low risk securities.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Higher interest expense attributable to higher deposit balances.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 12

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Net interest income increased 24% as a function primarily of:

 

Higher interest income earned on higher lending asset balances; and,

Redeployment of available cash into higher yielding, low risk securities.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Higher interest expense attributable to higher deposit balances; and,

Changes in the Bank’s funding mix.

 

Q3 YTD 2023 vs Q3 YTD 2022

 

Net interest income increased 36% to $73.8 million as a function primarily of the variables and trends discussed in the year over year trend above.

 

 

Net Interest Margin

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                                               
   

For the three months ended:

   

For the nine months ended:

 
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

           

July 31

   

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

   

2023

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                                                 

Interest income

  $ 60,089     $ 53,595       12 %   $ 34,177       76 %   $ 163,245     $ 84,745       93 %

Interest expense

    35,160       28,986       21 %     14,115       149 %     89,433       30,556       193 %

Net interest income

    24,929       24,609       1 %     20,062       24 %     73,812       54,189       36 %
                                                                 

Average assets

  $ 3,855,119     $ 3,630,542       6 %   $ 2,883,745       34 %   $ 3,623,422     $ 2,745,215       32 %

Yield*

    6.19 %     6.05 %     2 %     4.70 %     32 %     6.02 %     4.13 %     46 %

Cost of funds*

    3.62 %     3.27 %     11 %     1.94 %     87 %     3.30 %     1.49 %     121 %

Net interest margin*

    2.57 %     2.78 %     (8 %)     2.76 %     (7 %)     2.72 %     2.64 %     3 %
                                                                 

Average gross loans

  $ 3,525,286     $ 3,313,415       6 %   $ 2,622,677       34 %   $ 3,312,781     $ 2,449,729       35 %

Net interest margin on loans*

    2.69 %     2.99 %     (10 %)     3.07 %     (12 %)     2.89 %     3.04 %     (5 %)

* See definition in "Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures" section below.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

Net interest margin decreased 21 bps as a function primarily of:

 

Higher cost of funds attributable to higher rates paid on term deposits during the quarter amidst temporarily elevated rates in the term deposit market in Canada, which were impacted by the period of liquidity concerns related to the US banking sector.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Higher yields earned on the Bank’s lending and treasury assets.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 13

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Net interest margin decreased 19 bps as a function primarily of:

 

Higher cost of funds attributable primarily to higher rates paid on term deposits during the quarter amidst temporarily elevated rates in the term deposit market in Canada, which were impacted by the period of liquidity concerns related to the US banking sector; and,

Changes in the Bank’s funding mix.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Higher yields earned on the Bank’s lending and treasury assets.

 

Q3 YTD 2023 vs Q3 YTD 2022

 

Net interest margin increased 8 bps as a function primarily of:

 

Higher yields earned on the Bank’s lending and treasury assets.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Higher cost of funds.

 

 

Non-Interest Income

 

Non-interest income is comprised of revenue generated by DRTC which includes the gross profit of Digital Boundary Group, (“DBG”) as well as income derived from miscellaneous transaction fees not directly attributable to lending assets.

 

Non-interest income for the quarter was $1.9 million compared to $2.1 million last quarter and $1.2 million for the same period a year ago. The quarter over quarter and year over year trends were a function primarily of the timing of client engagements.

 

Non-interest income for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was $5.7 million compared to $4.0 million for the same period a year ago. The year over year trend was a function primarily of higher client engagements and continued improvements in operational efficiency achieved by DBG over the course of the period.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 14

 

Provision for Credit Losses

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

For the three months ended:

   

For the nine months ended:

 
   

July 31

   

April 30

   

July 31

   

July 31

   

July 31

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                         

Provision for (recovery of) credit losses:

                                       

Point-of-sale loans and leases

  $ 19     $ 44     $ 109     $ 101     $ 253  

Commercial real estate mortgages

    139       176       47       619       (18 )

Commercial real estate loans

    (9 )     2       9       (4 )     4  

Public sector and other financing

    22       15       1       77       7  

Provision for (recovery of) credit losses

  $ 171     $ 237     $ 166     $ 793     $ 246  

 

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

VersaBank recorded a provision for credit losses in the amount of $171,000 in the current quarter compared to a provision for credit losses in the amount of $237,000 last quarter as a function primarily of:

 

Changes in the forward-looking information used by VersaBank in its credit risk models; and,

Changes in the Bank’s lending asset mix.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Higher lending asset balances.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

VersaBank recorded a provision for credit losses in the amount of $171,000 in the current quarter compared to a provision for credit losses in the amount of $166,000 last year as a function primarily of:

 

Higher lending asset balances; and,

Changes in the forward-looking information used by VersaBank in its credit risk models.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Changes in the Bank’s lending asset mix.

 

Q3 YTD 2023 vs Q3 YTD 2022

 

VersaBank recorded a provision for credit losses in the amount of $793,000 in the current period compared to a provision for credit losses in the amount of $246,000 in the comparative period as a function primarily of the items discussed in the year over year trend above.

 

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 15

 

Non-Interest Expenses

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                                               
   

For the three months ended:

   

For the nine months ended:

 
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

           

July 31

   

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

   

2023

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                                                 

Salaries and benefits

  $ 7,453     $ 8,429       (12 %)   $ 6,768       10 %   $ 24,139     $ 19,577       23 %

General and administrative

    4,446       3,316       34 %     5,519       (19 %)     10,888       13,162       (17 %)

Premises and equipment

    980       981       0 %     929       5 %     2,913       2,880       1 %

Total non-interest expenses

  $ 12,879     $ 12,726       1 %   $ 13,216       (3 %)   $ 37,940     $ 35,619       7 %
                                                                 

Efficiency Ratio

    47.95 %     47.69 %     1 %     62.23 %     (23 %)     47.75 %     61.26 %     (22 %)

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

Non-interest expenses increased 1% to $12.9 million as a function primarily of:

 

Higher professional fees attributable to the continuing regulatory approval process associated with VersaBank’s acquisition of a US bank and seasonal corporate activities specific to the quarter.

 

Offset partially by:

 

 Lower salary and benefits amounts attributable to lower estimates related to performance based obligations.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Non-interest expenses decreased 3% as a function primarily of:

 

Lower capital tax expense attributable to a shift in the provincial allocation of the Bank’s loan and deposit originations; and,

Lower insurance premiums relative to the premiums paid during the comparative period attributable to VersaBank’s listing on the Nasdaq in September 2021.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Higher salary and benefits expense attributable to higher staffing levels to support expanded business activity across VersaBank and higher costs attributable to the continuing regulatory approval process associated with VersaBank’s acquisition of a US bank.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 16

 

Q3 YTD 2023 vs Q3 YTD 2022

 

Non-interest expenses increased 7% as a function primarily of:

 

Higher salary and benefits expense attributable to higher staffing levels to support expanded business activity across VersaBank as well as higher general, annual compensation adjustments; and,

Higher costs related to VersaBank’s acquisition of a US bank, noted above.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Lower capital tax expense attributable to a shift in the provincial allocation of the Bank’s loan and deposit originations; and,

Lower insurance premiums relative to the premiums paid during the comparative period attributable to VersaBank’s listing on the Nasdaq in September 2021.

 

 

Income Tax Provision

 

VersaBank’s year to date effective tax rate is approximately 27% compared with 30% for fiscal 2022. The tax rate is impacted by certain items not being taxable or deductible for income tax purposes. The lower tax rate in the current period reflects the impact of deferred tax assets recognized in the current period associated with DRTC’s non-capital loss carryforwards which are anticipated to be applied to future taxable earnings as well as lower non-deductible expenses. Provision for income taxes for the current quarter was $3.8 million compared to $3.5 million last quarter and $2.1 million for the same period a year ago.

 

Provision for income taxes for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was $11.0 million compared to $6.0 million for the same period a year ago.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 17

 

Financial Review Balance Sheet

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                         

Total assets

  $ 3,980,845     $ 3,729,393       7 %   $ 3,075,343       29 %

Cash and securities

    270,670       263,313       3 %     217,896       24 %

Loans, net of allowance for credit losses

    3,661,672       3,419,455       7 %     2,814,121       30 %

Deposits

    3,328,017       3,108,218       7 %     2,475,063       34 %

 

 

Total Assets

assets.jpg

 

Total assets as at July 31, 2023, were $3.98 billion compared to $3.73 billion last quarter and $3.08 billion a year ago. The quarter over quarter and year over year trends were a function primarily of growth in VersaBank’s lending portfolios, in particular the POS Financing portfolio.

 

 

Cash and securities

 

Cash and securities, which are held primarily for liquidity purposes, were $270.7 million or 7% of total assets as at July 31, 2023, compared to $263.3 million or 7% of total assets last quarter and $217.9 million or 7% of total assets a year ago.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 18

 

As at July 31, 2023, the Bank held securities totalling $182.9 million (October 31, 2022 - $141.6 million) which were comprised of:

 

Government of Canada Treasury Bill for $181.8 million with a face value totaling $182.0 million, yielding 4.89%, and which matured on August 3, 2023: and,

Government of Canada Bond for $990,000 with a face value totaling $1.0 million, yielding 4.73%, with a 3.75% coupon and maturing on May 1, 2025.

 

Loans

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                         
                                         

Point-of-sale loans and leases

  $ 2,776,126     $ 2,538,917       9 %   $ 1,998,993       39 %

Commercial real estate mortgages

    810,630       807,828       0 %     755,042       7 %

Commercial real estate loans

    9,298       11,996       (22 %)     13,510       (31 %)

Public sector and other financing

    49,627       46,350       7 %     35,605       39 %
      3,645,681       3,405,091       7 %     2,803,150       30 %
                                         

Allowance for credit losses

    (2,697 )     (2,526 )             (1,699 )        

Accrued interest

    18,688       16,890               12,670          
                                         

Total loans, net of allowance for credit losses

  $ 3,661,672     $ 3,419,455       7 %   $ 2,814,121       30 %

 

VersaBank organizes its lending portfolio into the following four broad asset categories: Point-of-Sale Loans & Leases, Commercial Real Estate Mortgages, Commercial Real Estate Loans, and Public Sector and Other Financing. These categories have been established in VersaBank’s proprietary, internally developed asset management system and have been designed to catalogue individual lending assets as a function primarily of their key risk drivers, the nature of the underlying collateral, and the applicable market segment.

 

The Point-of-Sale Loans and Leases (POS Financing) asset category is comprised of Point-of-Sale Loan and Lease Receivables acquired from VersaBank’s broad network of origination and servicing partners in Canada and the US as well as Warehouse Loans that provide bridge financing to VersaBank’s origination and servicing partners for the purpose of accumulating and seasoning practical volumes of individual loans and leases prior to VersaBank purchasing the cashflow receivables derived from same.

 

The Commercial Real Estate Mortgages (CRE Mortgages) asset category is comprised primarily of Residential Construction, Term, Insured and Land Mortgages. All of these loans are business-to-business loans with the underlying credit risk exposure being primarily consumer in nature given that the vast majority (approximately 90% as at July 31, 2023) of the loans are related to properties that are designated primarily for residential use. The portfolio benefits from diversity in its underlying security in the form of a broad range of such collateral properties.

 

The Commercial Real Estate Loans (CRE Loans) asset category is comprised primarily of Condominium Corporation Financing loans.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 19

 

The Public Sector and Other Financing (PSOF) asset category is comprised primarily of Public Sector Loans and Leases, a small balance of Corporate Loans and Leases and Single Family Residential Conventional and Insured Mortgages. VersaBank has de-emphasized Corporate lending and continues to monitor the public sector space in anticipation of more robust demand for Federal, Provincial and Municipal infrastructure and other project financings.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

Loans increased 7% to $3.66 billion as a function primarily of:

 

Growth of 9% in POS Financing portfolio balances attributable primarily to strong demand for home improvement/HVAC and transportation equipment receivable financing in the current period.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Loans increased 30% as a function primarily of:

 

Growth of 39% in POS Financing portfolio balances; and,

Growth of 7% in CRE Mortgage portfolio balances.

 

Residential Mortgage Exposures

 

In accordance with the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (“OSFI”) Guideline B-20 – Residential Mortgage Underwriting Practices and Procedures, additional information is provided regarding VersaBank’s residential mortgage exposure. For the purposes of the Guideline, a residential mortgage is defined as a loan to an individual that is secured by residential property (one-to-four-unit dwellings) and includes home equity lines of credit (HELOCs).

 

The Bank’s exposure to residential mortgages as at July 31, 2023, was $4.3 million compared to $3.7 million last quarter and $2.9 million a year ago. The Bank did not have any HELOCs outstanding as at July 31, 2023, last quarter or a year ago.

 

Credit Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses

 

VersaBank closely monitors its lending portfolio, the portfolio’s underlying borrowers, as well as its origination partners in order to ensure that management maintains good visibility on credit trends that could provide an early warning indication of the emergence of any elevated risk in VersaBank’s lending portfolio.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 20

 

Allowance for Credit Losses

 

The Bank must maintain an allowance for expected credit losses or ECL allowance that is adequate, in management’s opinion, to absorb all credit related losses in the Bank’s lending and treasury portfolios. Under IFRS 9 the Bank’s ECL allowance is estimated using the expected credit loss methodology and is comprised of expected credit losses recognized on both performing loans, and non-performing, or impaired loans even if no actual loss event has occurred.

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                         

ECL allowance by lending asset:

                                       

Point-of-sale loans and leases

  $ 646     $ 627       3 %   $ 528       22 %

Commercial real estate mortgages

    1,906       1,767       8 %     1,096       74 %

Commercial real estate loans

    50       59       (15 %)     49       2 %

Public sector and other financing

    95       73       30 %     26       265 %

Total ECL allowance

  $ 2,697     $ 2,526       7 %   $ 1,699       59 %

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                         

ECL allowance by stage:

                                       

ECL allowance stage 1

  $ 2,425     $ 2,403       1 %   $ 1,581       53 %

ECL allowance stage 2

    272       123       121 %     118       131 %

ECL allowance stage 3

    -       -               -          

Total ECL allowance

  $ 2,697     $ 2,526       7 %   $ 1,699       59 %

 

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

VersaBank’s ECL allowance as at July 31, 2023, was $2.70 million compared to $2.53 million last quarter as a function primarily of:

 

Higher lending asset balances.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Changes in the forward-looking information used by VersaBank in its credit risk models; and,

Changes in the Bank’s lending asset mix.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 21

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

VersaBank’s ECL allowance as at July 31, 2023, was $2.70 million compared to $1.70 million a year ago as a function primarily of:

 

Higher lending asset balances; and,

Changes in the forward-looking information used by VersaBank in its credit risk models.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Changes in the Bank’s lending asset mix.

 

 

Assessment of significant increase in credit risk (SICR)

 

At each reporting date, the Bank assesses whether or not there has been a SICR for loans since initial recognition by comparing, at the reporting date, the risk of default occurring over the remaining expected life against the risk of default at initial recognition.

 

SICR is a function of the loan’s internal risk rating assignment, internal watchlist status, loan review status and delinquency status which are updated as necessary in response to changes including, but not limited to, changes in macroeconomic and/or market conditions, changes in a borrower’s credit risk profile, and changes in the strength of the underlying security, including guarantor status, if a guarantor exists.

 

Quantitative models may not always be able to capture all reasonable and supportable information that may indicate a SICR. As a result, qualitative factors may be considered to supplement such a gap.

 

Examples include changes in adjudication criteria for a particular group of borrowers or asset categories or changes in portfolio composition as well as changes in Canadian and US macroeconomic trends attributable to changes in monetary policy, inflation, employment rates, consumer behaviour and geo-political risks.

 

Forward-Looking Information

 

The Bank incorporates the impact of future economic conditions, or more specifically forward-looking information into the estimation of expected credit losses at the credit risk parameter level. This is accomplished via the credit risk parameter models and proxy datasets that the Bank utilizes to develop probability of default (“PD”), and loss given default (“LGD”), term structure forecasts for its loans. The Bank has sourced credit risk modeling systems and forecast macroeconomic scenario data from Moody’s Analytics, a third-party service provider for the purpose of computing forward-looking credit risk parameters under multiple macroeconomic scenarios that consider both market-wide and idiosyncratic factors and influences. These systems are used in conjunction with the Bank’s internally developed ECL models. Given that the Bank has experienced very limited historical loan losses and, therefore, does not have available statistically significant loss data inventory for use in developing internal, forward looking expected credit loss trends, the use of unbiased, third-party forward-looking credit risk parameter modeling systems is particularly important for the Bank in the context of the estimation of expected credit losses.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 22

 

The Bank utilizes macroeconomic indicator data derived from multiple macroeconomic scenarios in order to mitigate volatility in the estimation of expected credit losses, as well as to satisfy the IFRS 9 requirement that future economic conditions are to be based on an unbiased, probability-weighted assessment of possible future outcomes. More specifically, the macroeconomic indicators set out in the macroeconomic scenarios are used as inputs for the credit risk parameter models utilized by the Bank to sensitize the individual PD and LGD term structure forecasts to the respective macroeconomic trajectory set out in each of the scenarios (see Expected Credit Loss Sensitivity below). Currently the Bank utilizes upside, downside and baseline forecast macroeconomic scenarios, and assigns discrete weights to each for use in the estimation of its reported ECL. The Bank has also applied expert credit judgement, where appropriate, to reflect, amongst other items, uncertainty in the Canadian and US macroeconomic environments.

 

The macroeconomic indicator data utilized by the Bank for the purpose of sensitizing PD and LGD term structure data to forward economic conditions include, but are not limited to: GDP, the Canadian national unemployment rate, long term interest rates, the consumer price index, the S&P/TSX Index and the price of oil. These specific macroeconomic indicators were selected in an attempt to ensure that the spectrum of fundamental macroeconomic influences on the key drivers of the credit risk profile of the Bank’s balance sheet, including: corporate, consumer and real estate market dynamics; corporate, consumer and SME borrower performance; geography; as well as collateral value volatility, are appropriately captured and incorporated into the Bank’s forward macroeconomic sensitivity analysis.

 

Key assumptions driving the base case macroeconomic forecast trends this quarter include: interest rates straining household finances but wage growth continues to support consumer spending; higher interest rates cause housing prices to continue to retreat, albeit modestly; real GDP slows measurably by the end of 2023 but a recession is avoided and unemployment increases only modestly due to the strength of the labour market; inflation continues to decline but lingers and results in the Bank of Canada undertaking a protracted process to returning to a neutral policy rate in late 2025; the impact of the crisis in Ukraine on global commodity prices and trade continues to diminish; public health restrictions do not return even as new COVID-19 case counts occasionally spike; and, supply-chain stress continues to ease.

 

 

Management developed ECL estimates using credit risk parameter term structure forecasts sensitized to individual baseline, upside and downside forecast macroeconomic scenarios, each weighted at 100%, and subsequently computed the variance of each to the Bank’s reported ECL as at July 31, 2023 in order to assess the alignment of the Bank’s reported ECL with the Bank’s credit risk profile, and further, to assess the scope, depth and ultimate effectiveness of the credit risk mitigation strategies that the Bank has applied to its lending portfolios (see Expected Credit Loss Sensitivity below).

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 23

 

A summary of the key forecast macroeconomic indicator data trends utilized by VersaBank for the purpose of sensitizing lending asset credit risk parameter term structure forecasts to forward looking information, which in turn are used in the estimation of VersaBank’s reported ECL, as well as in the assessment of same are presented in the charts below.

 

y01.jpg

 

Expected Credit Loss Sensitivity:

 

The following table presents the sensitivity of the Bank’s estimated ECL to a range of individual forecast macroeconomic scenarios, that in isolation may not reflect the Bank’s actual expected ECL exposure, as well as the variance of each to the Bank’s reported ECL as at July 31, 2023:

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                               
   

Reported

      100 %     100 %     100 %
   

ECL

   

Upside

   

Baseline

   

Downside

 
                                 

Allowance for expected credit losses

  $ 2,697     $ 1,751     $ 2,242     $ 3,117  

Variance from reported ECL

            (946 )     (455 )     420  

Variance from reported ECL (%)

            (35 %)     (17 %)     16 %

 

The uncertainty associated with the directionality, velocity and magnitude of both interest rates and inflation as well as the general uncertainty associated with the broader Canadian and US economies may result in VersaBank’s estimated ECL amounts exhibiting some future volatility which in turn may result in the Bank recognizing higher provisions for credit losses in the coming quarters.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 24

 

Considering the analysis set out above and based on management’s review of the loan and credit data comprising VersaBank’s lending portfolio, combined with management’s interpretation of the available forecast macroeconomic and industry data, management is of the view that its reported ECL allowance represents a reasonable proxy for potential, future losses.

 

Deposits

 

VersaBank has established three core funding channels, those being personal deposits, commercial deposits, and cash reserves retained from VersaBank’s POS Financing origination partners that are classified as other liabilities, which are discussed in the Other Assets and Liabilities section below.

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                         

Commercial deposits

  $ 603,583     $ 583,622       3 %   $ 591,092       2 %

Personal deposits

    2,724,434       2,524,596       8 %     1,883,971       45 %

Total deposits

  $ 3,328,017     $ 3,108,218       7 %   $ 2,475,063       34 %

 

Personal deposits, consisting principally of guaranteed investment certificates are sourced primarily through a well-established and well-diversified deposit broker network that the Bank continues to grow and expand across Canada.

 

Commercial deposits are sourced primarily via specialized operating accounts made available to insolvency professionals (“Trustees”) in the Canadian insolvency industry. The Bank developed customized banking software for use by Trustees that integrates banking services with the market-leading software platform used in the administration of consumer bankruptcy and proposal restructuring proceedings.

 

Substantially all of the Bank’s Personal and Commercial deposits sourced through these channels are eligible for CDIC insurance.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

Deposits increased 7% to $3.3 billion as a function primarily of:

 

Higher personal deposits attributable to VersaBank increasing activity in its broker market network to fund balance sheet growth, and:

Higher commercial deposits attributable to an increase in the volume of consumer and commercial bankruptcy and proposal restructuring proceedings.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Deposits increased 34% as a function primarily of the variables and trends set out above.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 25

 

Subordinated Notes Payable

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

   

July 31

 
   

2023

   

2023

   

2022

 
                         

Issued March 2019, unsecured, non-viability contingent capital compliant, subordinated notes payable, principal amount of $5.0 million, effective interest rate of 10.41%, maturing March 2029.

  $ 4,916     $ 4,913     $ 4,906  
                         

Issued April 2021, unsecured, non-viability contingent capital compliant, subordinated notes payable, principal amount of US $75.0 million, effective interest rate of 5.38%, maturing May 2031.

    96,669       99,619       93,800  
                         
    $ 101,585     $ 104,532     $ 98,706  

 

Subordinated notes payable, net of issue costs, were $101.6 million as at July 31, 2023, compared to $104.5 million last quarter and $98.7 million a year ago. The quarter over quarter and year over year trends were a function primarily of changes in the USD/CAD foreign exchange spot rate in the current quarter.

 

Other Assets and Liabilities

 

Other Assets

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                         

Accounts receivable

  $ 3,177     $ 3,070       3 %   $ 3,744       (15 %)

Prepaid expenses and other

    14,017       13,593       3 %     10,010       40 %

Property and equipment

    6,687       6,833       (2 %)     6,965       (4 %)

Right-of-use assets

    3,602       3,775       (5 %)     4,296       (16 %)

Deferred tax asset

    2,641       2,269       16 %     2,248       17 %

Interest rate swap

    1,118       103       985 %     -          

Investment

    953       953       0 %     953       0 %

Goodwill

    5,754       5,754       0 %     5,754       0 %

Intangible assets

    10,554       10,275       3 %     9,356       13 %
                                         

Total other assets

  $ 48,503     $ 46,625       4 %   $ 43,326       12 %

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

Other assets increased 4% to $48.5 million as a function primarily of:

 

Higher accounts receivable attributable primarily to the normal course timing of general corporate receivables

Higher prepaid expenses and other attributable primarily to normal course timing of general corporate prepaid expenses;

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 26

 

Improved valuation on the interest rate swap entered into by the Bank in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 for asset and liability management purposes attributable to the increase in forward rates over the course of the current quarter;

Higher intangible assets attributable primarily to the capitalization of compensation costs and various development costs directly related to the Bank’s business development initiatives; and,

Higher deferred tax asset attributable primarily to the Bank recognizing deferred tax assets associated with future non-capital loss carryforwards which are anticipated to be applied to future taxable earnings.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Lower capitalized assets attributable to amortization.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Other assets increased 12% as a function primarily of:

 

Higher prepaid expenses and other attributable primarily to normal course timing of general corporate prepaids expenses;

Improved valuation on the interest rate swap entered into by the Bank in the first quarter of fiscal 2023 for asset and liability management purposes attributable to the increase in forward rates over the course of the current quarter;

Higher intangible assets attributable primarily to the capitalization of compensation costs and various development costs directly related to the Bank’s business development initiatives; and,

Higher deferred tax asset attributable primarily to the Bank recognizing deferred tax assets associated with future non-capital loss carryforwards which are anticipated to be applied to future taxable earnings.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Lower accounts receivable attributable primarily to the normal course timing of general corporate receivables; and,

Lower capitalized assets attributable to amortization.

 

Other Liabilities

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                         

Accounts payable and other

  $ 7,265     $ 4,045       80 %   $ 8,317       (13 %)

Current income tax liability

    4,527       2,773       63 %     3,157       43 %

Deferred tax liability

    659       681       (3 %)     769       (14 %)

Lease obligations

    3,944       4,120       (4 %)     4,644       (15 %)

Cash collateral and amounts held in escrow

    9,657       6,746       43 %     10,992       (12 %)

Cash reserves on loan and lease receivables

    160,148       141,759       13 %     127,047       26 %
                                         

Total other liabilities

  $ 186,200     $ 160,124       16 %   $ 154,926       20 %

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 27

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

Other liabilities increased 16% to $186.2 million as a function primarily of:

 

Higher cash reserve balances attributable to higher POS Financing portfolio balances;

Higher cash collateral and amounts held in escrow;

Higher accounts payable attributable primarily to the normal course timing of general corporate payables; and,

Higher income tax payable amounts attributable primarily to the normal course payment of current year tax instalments.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Other liabilities increased 20% as a function primarily of:

 

Higher cash reserve balances attributable to higher POS Financing portfolio balances; and,

Higher income tax payable amounts attributable primarily to the normal course payment of current year tax instalments.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Lower accounts payable attributable primarily to the normal course timing of general corporate payables; and,

Lower cash collateral and amounts held in escrow attributable primarily to normal course transactions.

 

Shareholders Equity

 

Shareholders’ equity was $365.0 million as at July 31, 2023, compared to $356.5 million last quarter and $346.6 million a year ago.

 

At July 31, 2023, there were 25,924,424 common shares outstanding compared to 26,003,986 common shares outstanding last quarter and 27,441,082 common shares outstanding a year ago.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Shareholders’ equity increased 2% compared to last quarter and 5% compared to a year ago as a function primarily of:

 

Higher retained earnings attributable to net income earned over the period.

 

Offset partially by:

 

Purchase and cancellation of common shares through the Bank’s NCIB; and,

Payment of dividends.

 

VersaBank’s book value per common share as at July 31, 2023 was $13.55 compared to $13.19 last quarter and $12.14 a year ago. The quarter over quarter and year over year trends were a function primarily of higher retained earnings attributable to net income earned in the current quarter and the purchase and cancellation of common shares below book value per share through the Bank’s NCIB, offset partially by the payment of dividends over the same period.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 28

 

See note 9 to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional information relating to share capital.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

Stock options are accounted for using the fair value method which recognizes the fair value of the stock option over the applicable vesting period as an increase in salaries and benefits expense with the same amount being recorded in contributed surplus. VersaBank recognized compensation expense for the current quarter totaling $192,000 compared to $192,000 last quarter and $424,000 for the same period a year ago, relating to the estimated fair value of stock options granted. The recognized compensation expense for the nine-month period ended July 31, 2023, totaled $727,000 compared to $1.0 million for the same period a year ago. See note 9 to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional information relating to stock options.

 

Updated Share Information

 

As at August 28, 2023, there were no changes since July 31, 2023 in the number of common shares, Series 1 preferred shares, and common share options outstanding.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As at July 31, 2023, VersaBank had an outstanding derivative contract established for asset liability management purposes to swap between fixed and floating interest rates with a notional amount totalling $15.5 million that qualified for hedge accounting. The Bank enters into interest rate swap contracts for its own account exclusively and does not act as an intermediary in this market. 

 

As at July 31, 2023, VersaBank did not have any significant off-balance sheet arrangements other than an interest rate swap contract, loan commitments and letters of credit attributable to normal course business activities. See notes 12 and 13 to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for more information.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

VersaBank’s Board of Directors and senior executive officers represent key management personnel. See note 14 to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for additional information on related party transactions and balances.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 29

 

Capital Management and Capital Resources

 

The table below presents VersaBank’s regulatory capital position, risk-weighted assets and regulatory capital and leverage ratios for the current and comparative periods.

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                       
   

July 31

   

April 30

           

July 31

         
   

2023

   

2023

   

Change

   

2022

   

Change

 
                                         

Common Equity Tier 1 capital

  $ 339,894     $ 331,614       2 %   $ 321,386       6 %
                                         

Total Tier 1 capital

  $ 353,541     $ 345,261       2 %   $ 335,033       6 %
                                         

Total Tier 2 capital

  $ 106,524     $ 109,361       (3 %)   $ 102,879       4 %
                                         

Total regulatory capital

  $ 460,065     $ 454,622       1 %   $ 437,912       5 %
                                         

Total risk-weighted assets

  $ 3,047,172     $ 2,957,933       3 %   $ 2,568,678       19 %

Capital ratios

                                       

CET1 capital ratio

    11.15 %     11.21 %     (1 %)     12.51 %     (11 %)

Tier 1 capital ratio

    11.60 %     11.67 %     (1 %)     13.04 %     (11 %)

Total capital ratio

    15.10 %     15.37 %     (2 %)     17.05 %     (11 %)

Leverage ratio

    8.53 %     8.83 %     (3 %)     10.38 %     (18 %)

 

VersaBank reports its regulatory capital ratios using the Standardized approach for calculating risk-weighted assets, as defined under Basel III, which may require VersaBank to carry more capital for certain credit exposures compared to requirements under the Advanced Internal Ratings Based (“AIRB”) methodology. As a result, regulatory capital ratios of banks that utilize the Standardized approach are not directly comparable with the large Canadian banks that employ the AIRB methodology.

 

OSFI requires that all Canadian banks must comply with the Basel III standards on an “all-in” basis for purposes of determining their risk-based capital ratios. Required minimum regulatory capital ratios are a 7.0% Common Equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) capital ratio, an 8.5% Tier 1 capital ratio and a 10.5% total capital ratio, all of which include a 2.5% capital conservation buffer.

 

The quarter over quarter and year over year trends exhibited by VersaBank’s reported regulatory capital levels, regulatory capital ratios and leverage ratio were a function primarily of retained earnings growth, the purchase and cancellation of common shares through the Bank’s NCIB, and changes to VersaBank’s risk-weighted asset balances and composition.

 

For more information regarding capital management, please see note 15 to VersaBank’s July 31, 2023, unaudited interim Consolidated Financial Statements as well as the Capital Management and Capital Resources section of VersaBank’s MD&A for the year ended October 31, 2022.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 30

 

Liquidity

 

The unaudited Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the nine months ended July 31, 2023, shows cash provided by operations in the amount of $22.8 million compared to cash used by operations in the amount of $179.3 million for the same period last year. The trend in the current period was a function primarily of inflows from operations and deposits raised exceeding the timing of maturing of securities and cash outflows to fund loans. The comparative period trend was a function primarily of the Bank using existing liquidity to fund loans and invest in higher yielding short-term securities. Based on factors such as liquidity requirements and opportunities for investment in loans and securities, VersaBank may manage the amount of deposits it raises and loans it funds in ways that result in the balances of these items giving rise to either negative or positive cash flow from operations. VersaBank will continue to fund its operations and meet contractual obligations as they become due using cash on hand and by closely managing its flow of deposits.

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity

 

The table below presents the duration difference between VersaBank’s assets and liabilities and the potential after-tax impact of a 100-basis point shift in interest rates on VersaBank’s earnings during a 12-month period if no remedial actions are taken. As at July 31, 2023, the duration difference between assets and liabilities was (2.3) months compared to 1.4 months as at October 31, 2022. As at July 31, 2023, VersaBank’s assets would reprice faster than its liabilities in the event of a future change in interest rates.  

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                               
   

July 31, 2023

   

October 31, 2022

 
   

Increase

100 bps

   

Decrease

100 bps

   

Increase

100 bps

   

Decrease

100 bps

 

Increase (decrease):

                               

Impact on projected net interest income during a 12 month period

  $ 5,114     $ (5,123 )   $ 4,304     $ (4,261 )
                                 

Duration difference between assets and liabilities in months

    (2.3 )             1.4          

 

Contractual Obligations

 

As at July 31, 2023, VersaBank had an outstanding contract established for asset liability management purposes to swap between fixed and floating interest rates with a notional amount totalling $15.5 million which qualified for hedge accounting. There have been no other significant changes in contractual obligations as disclosed in VersaBank’s MD&A and Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended October 31, 2022.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 31

 

Results of Operating Segments

 

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                                                                               

for the three months ended

 

July 31, 2023

   

April 30, 2023

   

July 31, 2022

 
   

Digital

   

DRTC

   

Eliminations/

   

Consolidated

   

Digital

   

DRTC

   

Eliminations/

   

Consolidated

   

Digital

   

DRTC

   

Eliminations/

   

Consolidated

 
   

Banking

           

Adjustments

           

Banking

           

Adjustments

           

Banking

           

Adjustments

         

Net interest income

  $ 24,929     $ -     $ -     $ 24,929     $ 24,609     $ -     $ -     $ 24,609     $ 20,062     $ -     $ -     $ 20,062  

Non-interest income

    101       2,020       (191 )     1,930       122       2,146       (192 )     2,076       12       1,206       (41 )     1,177  

Total revenue

    25,030       2,020       (191 )     26,859       24,731       2,146       (192 )     26,685       20,074       1,206       (41 )     21,239  
                                                                                                 

Provision for (recovery of) credit losses

    171       -       -       171       237       -       -       237       166       -       -       166  
      24,859       2,020       (191 )     26,688       24,494       2,146       (192 )     26,448       19,908       1,206       (41 )     21,073  
                                                                                                 

Non-interest expenses:

                                                                                               

Salaries and benefits

    5,891       1,562       -       7,453       6,930       1,499       -       8,429       5,600       1,168       -       6,768  

General and administrative

    4,257       380       (191 )     4,446       3,131       377       (192 )     3,316       5,217       343       (41 )     5,519  

Premises and equipment

    610       370       -       980       612       369       -       981       610       319       -       929  
      10,758       2,312       (191 )     12,879       10,673       2,245       (192 )     12,726       11,427       1,830       (41 )     13,216  
                                                                                                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    14,101       (292 )     -       13,809       13,821       (99 )     -       13,722       8,481       (624 )     -       7,857  
                                                                                                 

Income tax provision

    3,999       (193 )     -       3,806       3,991       (532 )     -       3,459       2,099       38       -       2,137  
                                                                                                 

Net income (loss)

  $ 10,102     $ (99 )   $ -     $ 10,003     $ 9,830     $ 433     $ -     $ 10,263     $ 6,382     $ (662 )   $ -     $ 5,720  
                                                                                                 

Total assets

  $ 3,971,781     $ 25,485     $ (16,421 )   $ 3,980,845     $ 3,719,592     $ 25,559     $ (15,758 )   $ 3,729,393     $ 3,076,611     $ 21,796     $ (23,064 )   $ 3,075,343  
                                                                                                 

Total liabilities

  $ 3,609,832     $ 29,123     $ (23,153 )   $ 3,615,802     $ 3,366,614     $ 29,057     $ (22,797 )   $ 3,372,874     $ 2,725,820     $ 24,794     $ (21,919 )   $ 2,728,695  

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

                                                               

for the nine months ended

 

July 31, 2023

   

July 31, 2022

 
   

Digital Banking

   

DRTC

   

Eliminations/

   

Consolidated

   

Digital Banking

   

DRTC

   

Eliminations/

   

Consolidated

 
                   

Adjustments

                           

Adjustments

         

Net interest income

  $ 73,812     $ -     $ -     $ 73,812     $ 54,189     $ -     $ -     $ 54,189  

Non-interest income

    225       5,999       (574 )     5,650       14       4,061       (124 )     3,951  

Total revenue

    74,037       5,999       (574 )     79,462       54,203       4,061       (124 )     58,140  
                                                                 

Provision for (recovery of) credit losses

    793       -       -       793       246       -       -       246  
      73,244       5,999       (574 )     78,669       53,957       4,061       (124 )     57,894  
                                                                 

Non-interest expenses:

                                                               

Salaries and benefits

    19,505       4,634       -       24,139       16,625       2,952       -       19,577  

General and administrative

    10,250       1,212       (574 )     10,888       12,460       826       (124 )     13,162  

Premises and equipment

    1,845       1,068       -       2,913       1,851       1,029       -       2,880  
      31,600       6,914       (574 )     37,940       30,936       4,807       (124 )     35,619  
                                                                 

Income (loss) before income taxes

    41,644       (915 )     -       40,729       23,021       (746 )     -       22,275  
                                                                 

Income tax provision

    11,779       (733 )     -       11,046       5,805       241       -       6,046  
                                                                 

Net income (loss)

  $ 29,865     $ (182 )   $ -     $ 29,683     $ 17,216     $ (987 )   $ -     $ 16,229  
                                                                 

Total assets

  $ 3,971,781     $ 25,485     $ (16,421 )   $ 3,980,845     $ 3,076,611     $ 21,796     $ (23,064 )   $ 3,075,343  
                                                                 

Total liabilities

  $ 3,609,832     $ 29,123     $ (23,153 )   $ 3,615,802     $ 2,725,820     $ 24,794     $ (21,919 )   $ 2,728,695  

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 32

 

Digital Banking Operations

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

Net income increased 3% to $10.1 million as a function primarily of higher revenues attributable to strong loan growth and the redeployment of available cash into higher yielding, low risk securities, as well as lower provision for credit losses offset partially by modestly higher non-interest expenses.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

Net income increased 58% as a function primarily of higher revenue attributable to strong loan growth and the redeployment of available cash into higher yielding, low risk securities as well as lower non-interest expenses offset partially by higher provision for credit losses.

 

Q3 YTD 2023 vs Q3 YTD 2022

 

Net income increased 73% as a function primarily of higher revenue attributable to strong loan growth and the redeployment of available cash into higher yielding, low risk securities offset partially by higher provision for credit losses and higher non-interest expenses.

 

 

DRTC (Cybersecurity Services and Banking and Financial Technology Development)

 

Q3 2023 vs Q2 2023

 

DRTC recorded a net loss of $99,000 compared to net income of $433,000 attributable primarily to the recognition of a $530,000 deferred tax asset in the comparative period associated with DRTC’s non-capital loss carryforwards which are anticipated to be applied to future taxable earnings.

 

DRTC’s DBG services revenue and gross profit decreased 8% and 6% to $2.4 million and $1.8 million respectively as a function of lower service engagements in the current quarter. DBG’s gross profit amounts are included in DRTC’s consolidated revenue which is reflected in non-interest income in VersaBank’s consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

 

Q3 2023 vs Q3 2022

 

DRTC recorded a net loss of $99,000 compared to a net loss of $662,000 as a function primarily of higher revenues attributable to higher gross profit from DBG that was offset by higher non-interest expenses attributable to higher salary and benefits expense due to higher staffing levels established to support expanded business activity.

 

DBG revenue increased 10% as a function of higher service engagements in the current quarter while gross profit increased 52% as a function primarily of improvements in operational efficiency achieved by DBG over the course of the year.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 33

 

Q3 YTD 2023 vs Q3 YTD 2022

 

DRTC recorded a net loss of $182,000 compared to a net loss of $987,000 attributable primarily to higher revenues and gross profit from DBG offset by higher non-interest expenses attributable to higher salary and benefits expense due to higher staffing levels established to support expanded business activity. The favourable trend in the current period also reflects the impact of the recognition of a deferred tax asset in the second quarter of fiscal 2023 associated with DRTC’s non-capital loss carryforwards which are anticipated to be applied to future taxable earnings.

 

DBG revenue increased 4% as a function of higher service work volume in the current period while gross profit increased 34% as a function primarily of improvements in operational efficiency achieved by DBG over the course of the year.

 

 

Summary of Quarterly Results

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars,

                                                               

except per share amounts)

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

 
   

Q3

   

Q2

   

Q1

   

Q4

   

Q3

   

Q2

   

Q1

   

Q4

 
                                                                 

Results of operations:

                                                               

Interest income

  $ 60,089     $ 53,595     $ 49,561     $ 42,072     $ 34,177     $ 25,848     $ 24,720     $ 23,924  

Yield on assets (%)

    6.19 %     6.05 %     5.78 %     5.26 %     4.70 %     4.15 %     4.06 %     4.04 %

Interest expense

    35,160       28,986       25,287       19,595       14,115       8,606       7,835       7,778  

Cost of funds (%)

    3.62 %     3.27 %     2.95 %     2.45 %     1.94 %     1.38 %     1.29 %     1.31 %

Net interest income

    24,929       24,609       24,274       22,477       20,062       17,242       16,885       16,146  

Net interest margin (%)

    2.57 %     2.78 %     2.83 %     2.81 %     2.76 %     2.77 %     2.77 %     2.73 %

Net interest margin on loans (%)

    2.69 %     2.99 %     3.03 %     3.03 %     3.07 %     3.11 %     3.23 %     3.31 %

Non-interest income

    1,930       2,076       1,644       1,775       1,177       1,393       1,381       2,090  

Total revenue

    26,859       26,685       25,918       24,252       21,239       18,635       18,266       18,236  

Provision for (recovery of) credit losses

    171       237       385       205       166       78       2       (279 )

Non-interest expenses

    12,879       12,726       12,335       13,774       13,216       11,767       10,636       10,377  

Efficiency ratio

    48 %     48 %     48 %     57 %     62 %     63 %     58 %     57 %

Efficiency ratio - Digital Banking

    43 %     43 %     42 %     51 %     57 %     58 %     56 %     56 %

Tax provision

    3,806       3,459       3,781       3,844       2,137       1,847       2,062       2,228  

Net income

  $ 10,003     $ 10,263     $ 9,417     $ 6,429     $ 5,720     $ 4,943     $ 5,566     $ 5,910  

Income per share

                                                               

Basic

  $ 0.38     $ 0.38     $ 0.34     $ 0.23     $ 0.20     $ 0.17     $ 0.19     $ 0.24  

Diluted

  $ 0.38     $ 0.38     $ 0.34     $ 0.23     $ 0.20     $ 0.17     $ 0.19     $ 0.24  

Return on average common equity

    11.15 %     12.07 %     10.79 %     7.32 %     6.57 %     5.92 %     6.58 %     8.07 %

Return on average total assets

    1.00 %     1.13 %     1.07 %     0.77 %     0.75 %     0.75 %     0.87 %     0.96 %

 

The financial results for each of the last eight quarters are summarized above. Key drivers of VersaBank’s quarter over quarter performance trends for the current reporting period were:

 

Lending asset growth attributable primarily to growth in the POS Financing portfolio;

Lower NIM as a function of higher cost of funds offset partially by higher yields earned on the Bank’s lending and treasury assets;

Lower provision for credit losses attributable primarily to changes in the forward-looking information used by VersaBank in its credit risk models in the current quarter and changes to the Bank’s lending asset mix offset partially by higher lending asset balances; and,

Higher non-interest expenses due primarily to higher professional fees attributable to the continuing regulatory approval process associated with VersaBank’s acquisition of a US bank and seasonal corporate activities specific to the quarter offset partially by lower salary and benefits amounts attributable to estimates associated with performance-based obligations.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 34

 

Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures

 

Non-GAAP and other financial measures are not standardized financial measures under the financial reporting framework used to prepare the financial statements of the Bank to which these measures relate. These measures may not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. The Bank uses these financial measures to assess its performance and as such believes these financial measures are useful in providing readers with a better understanding of how management assesses the Bank’s performance.

 

Non-GAAP Measures

 

Return on Average Common Equity is defined as annualized net income less amounts relating to preferred share dividends, divided by average common shareholders’ equity which is average shareholders’ equity less amounts relating to preferred shares recorded in equity.

 

   

for the three months ended

   

for the nine months ended

 
   

July 31

   

July 31

   

July 31

   

July 31

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

 

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Return on average common equity

                               

Net income

  $ 10,003     $ 5,720     $ 29,683     $ 16,229  

Preferred share dividends

    (247 )     (247 )     (741 )     (741 )

Adjusted net income

    9,756       5,473       28,942       15,488  

Annualized adjusted net income

    38,706       21,714       38,695       20,707  

Average common equity

  $ 347,135     $ 330,445     $ 344,213     $ 325,791  

Return on average common equity

    11.15 %     6.57 %     11.24 %     6.36 %

 

Book Value per Common Share is defined as Shareholders’ Equity less amounts relating to preferred shares recorded in equity, divided by the number of common shares outstanding.

 

   

as at

 
   

July 31

   

July 31

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars, except shares outstanding and per share amounts)

 

2023

   

2022

 

Book value per common share

               

Common equity

  $ 351,396     $ 333,001  

Shares outstanding

    25,924,424       27,441,082  

Book value per common share

  $ 13.55     $ 12.14  

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 35

 

Return on Average Total Assets is defined as annualized net income less amounts relating to preferred share dividends, divided by average total assets.

 

   

for the three months ended

   

for the nine months ended

 
   

July 31

   

July 31

   

July 31

   

July 31

 

(thousands of Canadian dollars)

 

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

Return on average total assets

                               

Net income

  $ 10,003     $ 5,720     $ 29,683     $ 16,229  

Preferred share dividends

    (247 )     (247 )     (741 )     (741 )

Adjusted net income

    9,756       5,473       28,942       15,488  

Annualized adjusted net income

    38,706       21,714       38,695       20,707  

Average Assets

  $ 3,855,119     $ 2,883,745     $ 3,623,422     $ 2,745,215  

Return on average total assets

    1.00 %     0.75 %     1.07 %     0.75 %

 

Other Financial Measures

 

Yield is calculated as interest income (as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income) divided by average total assets. Yield does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other financial institutions.

 

Cost of Funds is calculated as interest expense (as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income) divided by average total assets. Cost of funds does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other financial institutions.

 

Net Interest Margin or Spread are calculated as net interest income divided by average total assets. Net interest margin or spread does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other financial institutions.

 

Net Interest Margin on Loans is calculated as net interest income adjusted for the impact of cash. securities and other assets, divided by average gross loans. This metric does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other financial institutions.

 

Efficiency Ratio is calculated as non-interest expenses from consolidated operations as a percentage of total revenue (as presented in the interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income). This ratio does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other financial institutions.

 

Efficiency Ratio Digital Banking is calculated as non-interest expenses from the Digital Banking operations as a percentage of total revenue from the Digital Banking operations. This ratio does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other financial institutions.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 36

 

Provision for (Recovery of) Credit Losses as a Percentage of Average Total Loans captures the provision for (recovery of) credit losses (as presented in the interim Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income) as a percentage of VersaBank’s average loans, net of allowance for credit losses. This percentage does not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other financial institutions.

 

Basel III Common Equity Tier 1, Tier 1, Total Capital Adequacy and Leverage Ratios are determined in accordance with guidelines issued by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (Canada) (OSFI).

 

 

Significant Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates and Judgements

 

Significant accounting policies and use of estimates and judgements are detailed in note 2 and note 3 of VersaBank’s 2022 Audited Consolidated Financial Statements. There have been no material changes in accounting policies since October 31, 2022, except as noted below.

 

During the current year VersaBank updated or incorporated the following significant accounting policies:

 

Derivative instruments:

 

Derivatives are reported as other assets when they have a positive fair value and as other liabilities when they have a negative fair value. Derivatives may be embedded in other financial instruments. Derivatives embedded in other financial instruments are valued as separate derivatives when: the economic characteristics and risks associated are not clearly and closely related to those of the host contract; the terms of the embedded derivative would meet the definition of a derivative if it was a stand-alone, independent instrument; and the combined contract is not held for trading or designated at fair value through profit or loss. For financial statement disclosure purposes, embedded derivatives are combined with the host contract.

 

Hedge accounting:

 

The Bank has elected, as permitted, to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39. Interest rate swap agreements are entered into for asset liability management (“ALM”) purposes. When hedge accounting criteria are met, derivative contracts are accounted for as described below.

 

To meet the criteria for hedge accounting, the Bank documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, how hedge effectiveness is assessed, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives to specific assets or liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The Bank also formally assesses, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items.

 

There are three main types of hedges: (i) fair value hedges, (ii) cash flow hedges and (iii) net investment hedges.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 37

 

The Bank has only fair value hedges outstanding. In a fair value hedge, the change in the fair value of the hedging derivative is recognized in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The change in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to the risk hedged is recorded as part of the carrying value of the hedged item (basis adjustment) and is also recognized in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. The Bank utilizes fair value hedges primarily to convert fixed rate financial assets to floating rate financial assets. The primary financial instruments designated in fair value hedging relationships are loans. If the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, or the designation is revoked, hedge accounting is discontinued. Any basis adjustment up to that point made to a hedged item for which the effective interest method is used is amortized to the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income as part of the recalculated effective interest rate of the item over its remaining term. If the hedged item is derecognized, the unamortized fair value is recognized immediately in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

 

In fair value hedges, ineffectiveness arises to the extent that change in fair value of the hedging items differs from the change in fair value of the hedge risk in the hedged item. Any hedge ineffectiveness is measured and recorded in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income.

 

Derivative contracts which do not qualify for hedge accounting are marked-to-market and the resulting net gains or losses are recognized in non-interest income in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

During the quarter ended July 31, 2023, there were no changes in VersaBank’s internal controls over financial reporting, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect VersaBank’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

VersaBank – Q3 2023 MD&A 38