Exhibit 99.1
News Release
For Immediate Release
VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL CORP.
REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2023
Midlothian, Virginia, January 25, 2024. Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. (the “Company”) (Nasdaq symbol: VBFC), parent company of Village Bank (the “Bank”), today reported unaudited results for the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $1,692,000, or $1.14 per fully diluted share, compared to net income for the fourth quarter of 2022 of $2,162,000, or $1.46 per fully diluted share. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, net income was $1,918,000, or $1.29 per fully diluted share, compared to net income for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, of $8,305,000, or $5.62 per fully diluted share.
Jay Hendricks, President and CEO, commented, “We finished the year with a good fourth quarter and well positioned for 2024. We produced a consolidated return on average equity of 10.45% for the fourth quarter and 12.00% in the commercial banking segment. Margin compression and economic malaise in the mortgage business impacted the full year 2023 results. We repositioned our investment portfolio in the third quarter and, while the transaction negatively impacted earnings, the transaction was structured to improve the go forward run rate on earnings. The benefit can be seen in our net interest margin (NIM) which expanded 37 basis points to 3.83% from the third quarter.”
“The commercial bank grew core loans 6.83% and deposits decreased 3.10% in 2023. Deposit balances were generally flat to slightly up throughout the year. The fourth quarter decrease is primarily attributable to year-end business operating account distributions. While we anticipate continued pressure on our funding base, increasing earning asset yields, and disciplined management of our deposit mix and cost will support our net interest margin into 2024. Our focus remains on core relationship growth, disciplined management of our funding mix and costs, navigating the weak mortgage environment and remaining vigilant on credit quality.”