Cass Information Systems Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

First Quarter Results

(All comparisons refer to the first quarter of 2023, except as noted)

• Net income of $7.2 million, or $0.52 per diluted common share.
• Return on average equity and assets of 12.66% and 1.20%, respectively.
• Increase in facility expense transaction volumes of 23.0%.
• Processing fee growth of 8.9%.
• Limited operating expense growth to 0.7% despite facility expense transaction volume increase.
• Maintained exceptional credit quality, with no non-performing loans or charge-offs.

Cass Information Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CASS), (the Company or Cass) reported first quarter 2024 earnings of $0.52 per diluted share, as compared to $0.51 in the first quarter of 2023 and $0.61 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income for the period was $7.2 million, an increase of 0.5% from $7.1 million in the same period in 2023 and a decrease of $1.3 million, or 15.0%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023.

Martin Resch, the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, noted, “We successfully onboarded a significant number of new facility clients during the first quarter which we could not have accomplished as effectively without the technology platform upgrades we have completed over the last several quarters. Facility transaction volumes increasing 23.0% and operating expenses increasing only 0.7% show that we are becoming more scalable.” Resch added, “While current revenue and profitability levels are certainly not where we would like them to be due to the ongoing freight recession and other external events, we have robust new business pipelines throughout our lines of business which should place us in a good position to grow clients and transactions.”

First Quarter 2024 Highlights

Transportation Dollar Volumes – Transportation dollar volumes were $8.9 billion during the first quarter of 2024, decreases of 12.9% as compared to the first quarter of 2023 and 1.2% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The average dollars per transaction declined to $1,019 during the first quarter of 2024 as compared to $1,036 in the fourth quarter of 2023 and $1,129 in the first quarter of 2023 as a result of lower fuel costs and overall freight rates. Transportation dollar volumes are key to the Company’s revenue as higher volumes generally lead to an increase in payment float, which generates interest income, as well as an increase in payments in advance of funding, which generates financial fees.

Facility Expense Dollar Volumes – Facility expense dollar volumes totaled $5.3 billion during the first quarter of 2024, increases of 0.3% as compared to the first quarter of 2023 and 9.9% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The slight increase as compared to the first quarter of 2023 is largely reflective of new client volume, partially offset by lower energy prices. The increase as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 is reflective of new client onboarding and related transaction growth.

Processing Fees – Processing fees increased $1.7 million, or 8.9%, over the same period in the prior year. The increase in processing fees was largely driven by an increase in facility transaction volumes of 23.0%. The Company has experienced recent success in winning facility clients with high transaction volumes. Transportation invoice volumes decreased 3.6% over the same period. The decline in transportation volumes is largely due to the on-going freight recession.

Financial Fees – Financial fees, earned on a transactional level basis for invoice payment services when making customer payments, decreased $482,000, or 4.3%. The decrease in financial fee income was primarily due to a decline in transportation dollar volumes of 12.9% in addition to changes in the manner certain vendors receive payments, partially offset by the increase in short-term interest rates between the periods.

Net Interest Income – Net interest income decreased $422,000, or 2.5%. The decrease in net interest income was attributable to a decline in average interest-earning assets of $99.5 million, or 4.6%. The Company’s net interest margin improved to 3.26% as compared to 3.23% in the same period last year.

The Company’s net interest margin declined 4 basis points as compared to 3.30% in the fourth quarter of 2023 primarily driven by a $91.6 million decrease in average non-interest bearing funding, consisting of $17.0 million in average non-interest bearing deposits and $74.6 million in average accounts and drafts payable. A cyber event at a CassPay client reduced payment volumes and related accounts and drafts payable during the first quarter of 2024.

Provision for Credit Losses - The Company recorded a provision of credit losses of $95,000 during the first quarter of 2024 as compared to a release of credit losses of $340,000 in the first quarter of 2023. The provision for credit losses for the first quarter of 2024 was largely driven by the increase in total loans of $22.7 million, or 2.2%, as compared to December 31, 2023.

Personnel Expenses - Personnel expenses increased $581,000, or 1.9%. Salaries and commissions increased $1.4 million, or 6.1%, as a result of merit increases and an increase in average full-time equivalent employees (“FTEs”) of 5.2% due to strategic investments in various technology initiatives. Share-based compensation decreased $724,000 reflecting the Company’s financial performance and the impact on performance-based restricted stock between the periods.

Non-Personnel Expenses - Non-personnel expenses declined $282,000, or 2.7%. Certain expense categories related to technology declined as the Company transitioned to new technology platforms for data entry.

Loans - When compared to December 31, 2023, ending loans increased $22.7 million, or 2.2%. The Company experienced growth in its commercial and industrial loan portfolio during the first quarter of 2024.

Payments in Advance of Funding – Average payments in advance of funding decreased $46.6 million, or 19.3%, primarily due to a 12.9% decrease in transportation dollar volumes, which led to fewer dollars advanced to freight carriers.

Deposits – Average deposits decreased $65.2 million, or 5.7%, when compared to the first quarter of 2023 and increased $22.5 million, or 2.1%, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. Total deposits at March 31, 2024 decreased $61.7 million, or 5.4% as compared to December 31, 2023. The Company experienced deposit attrition subsequent to the first quarter of 2023 as larger commercial depository clients moved their funds to higher interest rate alternatives outside of the banking system. However, the Company has experienced recent growth in its average deposit balances as a result of higher deposit rates and increased depositor confidence across the banking industry.

Accounts and Drafts Payable - Average accounts and drafts payable decreased $59.3 million, or 5.4%. The decrease in these balances, which are non-interest bearing, are primarily reflective of the decrease in transportation dollar volumes of 12.9%. In addition, a cyber event at a CassPay client reduced payment volumes and related average accounts and drafts payable. Accounts and drafts payable are a significant source of funding generated by payment float from transportation, facility and CassPay clients.

Shareholders’ Equity - Total shareholders’ equity has decreased $322,000 since December 31, 2023 as a result of an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $1.7 million primarily related to the fair value of available-for-sale investment securities, dividends of $4.0 million and the repurchase of Company stock of $1.0 million, partially offset by net income of $7.2 million.

About Cass Information Systems

Cass Information Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of integrated information and payment management solutions. Cass enables enterprises to achieve visibility, control and efficiency in their supply chains, communications networks, facilities and other operations. Disbursing over $90 billion annually on behalf of clients, and with total assets of $2.3 billion, Cass is uniquely supported by Cass Commercial Bank. Founded in 1906 and a wholly owned subsidiary, Cass Commercial Bank provides sophisticated financial exchange services to the parent organization and its clients. Cass is part of the Russell 2000^®. More information is available at www.cassinfo.com.

Forward Looking Information

This information contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include future financial and operating results, expectations, intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of the Company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the impact of economic and market conditions, inflationary pressures, risks of credit deterioration, interest rate changes, governmental actions, market volatility, security breaches and technology interruptions, energy prices and competitive factors, among others, as set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Note to Investors

The Company has used, and intends to continue using, the Investors portion of its website to disclose material non-public information and to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors are encouraged to monitor Cass’s website in addition to following press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts.

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