Company Announcements

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 2025-- WSFS Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: WSFS), the parent company of WSFS Bank, today announced its financial results for the full year and fourth quarter of 2024.

Selected financial results and metrics are as follows:

GAAP results for the quarterly periods shown included items that are excluded from core results. Below is a summary of the financial effects of these items, which were primarily related to costs associated with the optimization of WSFS-owned real estate properties. For additional detail, refer to the Non-GAAP Reconciliation in the back of this earnings release.

CEO Commentary

Rodger Levenson, Chairman, CEO and President, said, "WSFS delivered another strong quarter, with core EPS⁽²⁾ of $1.11 and a core ROA⁽²⁾ of 1.24%. Our performance was highlighted by robust deposit growth, a strong NIM, lower credit costs and record performance in our Wealth and Trust franchise.

"Our Q4 results included the impact of an adverse event related to a Cash Connect^® Client that led to our termination of this relationship. While disappointing, the actions of our team minimized our exposure, a portion of which we expect to recover through insurance and other avenues.

"Full-year 2024 performance was also strong with core EPS of $4.39, core ROA of 1.26% and core ROTCE⁽²⁾ of 17.83%, all reflecting the continued optimization of recent franchise investments.

"During the quarter, we were honored to be recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Best Regional Banks, reinforcing our position as the leading locally-headquartered bank and wealth franchise in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region.

"I extend my sincere thanks to our over 2,300 Associates for their hard work and commitment to WSFS this past year. We enter 2025 with continued momentum and opportunity as we embark on our 2025-2027 Strategic Plan."

Highlights for 4Q 2024:

• Core ROA was 1.24%, compared to 1.22% for 3Q 2024.
• Core EPS was $1.11, compared to $1.08 for 3Q 2024.
• Customer deposits increased 4% (not annualized) compared to 3Q 2024 and 4% compared to 4Q 2023, driven by broad-based growth across our Trust, Consumer, and Commercial business lines.
• Net interest margin of 3.80%, compared to 3.78% for 3Q 2024, reflects active deposit repricing actions and higher noninterest deposits, partially offset by lower loan yields.
• Total net credit costs were $8.7 million, compared to $20.1 million for 3Q 2024 due to a decrease in the provision for credit losses, reflecting improvement in leading indicators and lower net charge-offs.
• Gross loans decreased 1% (4% annualized) from 3Q 2024 primarily due to higher commercial payoffs as well as runoff in the consumer partnership portfolios. Gross loans increased 3% from 4Q 2023 driven by increases in commercial mortgage, C&I, residential mortgage, and consumer loans.
• Quarterly record fee revenue in Wealth and Trust, with 12% year over year growth.
• Cash Connect^® pre-tax income was negatively impacted by $4.7 million as a result of the termination of a long-standing Client relationship, which is described further in the Cash Connect^® section of this release.
• WSFS repurchased 393,238 shares of common stock at an average price of $53.27 per share, totaling an aggregate of $20.9 million. The Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share. During the year, WSFS repurchased 2,049,739 shares of common stock, or 3%, of shares outstanding, at an average price of $46.55 per share, returning $95.4 million of capital to shareholders.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Discussion of Financial Results
Balance Sheet

The following table summarizes loan and lease balances and composition at December 31, 2024 compared to September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

At December 31, 2024, WSFS’ gross loan and lease portfolio decreased $123.1 million, or 1% (4% annualized), when compared with September 30, 2024, primarily driven by decreases of $118.4 million in commercial mortgage attributable to seasonally higher payoff activity, and $52.0 million in consumer loans due to runoff of the Spring EQ and Upstart portfolios. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $27.0 million in residential mortgage, due to the retention of certain loans based on favorable yields and relationship opportunities.

Gross loans and leases at December 31, 2024 increased $442.6 million, or 3%, when compared with December 31, 2023. Total commercial loans and leases grew $259.1 million, or 3%, driven by increases of $229.4 million, or 6%, in commercial mortgage and $209.2 million, or 5%, in C&I. These increases were partially offset by a $203.4 million decrease in construction loans, partially driven by migration into commercial mortgages and C&I loans (including owner-occupied real estate). Residential mortgage increased $109.2 million, or 12%, and consumer loans increased $74.3 million, or 4%, primarily due to growth in WSFS-originated consumer loans and Spring EQ.

The following table summarizes customer deposit balances and composition at December 31, 2024 compared to September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023:

Total customer deposits increased by $602.8 million, or 4% (not annualized), when compared with September 30, 2024, driven by broad-based growth across the Trust, Consumer, and Commercial business lines, partially offset by expected seasonal decreases in municipal deposits. Average customer deposits also increased 4%, compared to 3Q 2024. Average noninterest demand deposits, which comprised 31% of average customer deposits, grew 6% (not annualized), reflecting the strength of our core deposit base.

Total customer deposits increased by $607.4 million, or 4%, from December 31, 2023, primarily driven by the Consumer and Commercial businesses, with growth in time, money market, and noninterest demand deposits. Average customer deposits increased 6% compared to 4Q 2023, including average noninterest demand deposit growth of 7%.

The deposit base remains well-diversified, with 51% of customer deposits coming from the Commercial, Small Business, and Wealth and Trust business lines. The loan-to-deposit ratio⁽³⁾ was 77% at December 31, 2024, providing continued capacity to fund future loan growth.

Core deposits were 87% of total customer deposits, with a weighted average cost of 147bps for the quarter. No- and low-cost checking accounts represented 46% of total customer deposits with a weighted average cost of 41bps for the quarter.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income increased $0.7 million, or less than 1%, compared to 3Q 2024, driven by lower deposit and wholesale funding costs, which were partially offset by lower income from loans. Net interest income was essentially flat compared to 4Q 2023, despite 100bps of interest rate cuts in 2H 2024.

Total loan yields were 6.80%, a decrease of 27bps when compared to 3Q 2024, due to the rate cuts in 2H 2024. Total customer deposit costs were 1.83%, a decrease of 12bps, while interest-bearing deposit costs were 2.65%, a decrease of 14bps compared to the prior quarter. The deposit cost decreases reflect deposit repricing actions taken in response to the Fed interest rate cuts.

Net interest margin of 3.80%, an increase of 2bps compared to 3Q 2024, reflects the repricing actions and higher noninterest deposits, partially offset by the lower loan yields mentioned above. Net interest margin decreased 19bps from 4Q 2023, primarily driven by lower loan yields as well as deposit mix shift and growth in higher priced deposit products over the past year.

Asset Quality

Total net credit costs were $8.7 million in the quarter, a decrease of $11.4 million, compared to $20.1 million in 3Q 2024. The decrease reflects improvements in early stage metrics of problem assets and delinquencies, as well as net charge-offs.

Problem assets to total Tier 1 capital plus ACL ratio was 26.21%, a decrease of 390bps compared to September 30, 2024, driven by upgrades and the full payoff of a $21.6 million problem credit.

Delinquencies of $121.8 million, or 92bps of gross loans, decreased $25.8 million, or 19bps, compared to September 30, 2024, primarily due to two commercial relationships brought current within the period.

Nonperforming assets increased $36.0 million, or 17bps of total assets, compared to September 30, 2024, primarily driven by the migration of one relationship with two loans, one land and one multifamily construction. These loans were previously included in problem assets and are well-collateralized based on current valuations.

Net charge-offs decreased $8.9 million to $10.2 million, or 31bps (annualized) of average gross loans during the quarter. Outside of the NewLane and Upstart portfolios, which continued to moderate, there were minimal losses in our commercial and consumer portfolios in the quarter.

The ACL was $195.3 million as of December 31, 2024, a decrease of $2.2 million from September 30, 2024. The ACL coverage ratio was 1.48%, flat compared to September 30, 2024.

Core Fee Revenue⁽⁵⁾

Core fee revenue (noninterest income) of $83.2 million decreased $6.9 million, or 8% (not annualized), compared to $90.1 million from 3Q 2024. The decrease was driven by $6.4 million of lower Cash Connect^® fee revenue and $2.3 million from the Spring EQ earnout recognized in 3Q 2024. The decline in Cash Connect^® included a $2.8 million impact from the write-off of uncollectible fees related to the termination of a Client relationship as well as a $2.1 million impact from interest rates (which was offset in noninterest expense). The full impact of the Client termination is described further in the Cash Connect^® section of this release. The decrease was partially offset by Wealth and Trust, which increased $3.0 million and delivered a record quarter, with double digit growth in Institutional Services.

Core fee revenue increased $5.2 million, or 7%, compared to 4Q 2023. Excluding the impacts of the Cash Connect^® Client termination and Spring EQ-related fees in 2023, core fee revenue increased 15%. The growth was driven by the Wealth and Trust and Cash Connect^® business lines. Growth in Wealth and Trust was driven by Institutional Services, Private Wealth Management and The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware (BMT of DE). Growth in Cash Connect^® was driven bybailment Clients added in the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first half of 2024.

For 4Q 2024, our core fee revenue ratio⁽⁵⁾ was 31.8% compared to 33.6% in 3Q 2024 and 30.4% in 4Q 2023. Fee revenue is a competitive differentiator providing a well-diversified source of revenue with further growth opportunities expected.

Core Noninterest Expense⁽⁶⁾

Core noninterest expense of $167.0 million increased $3.3 million, or 2% (not annualized), compared to 3Q 2024. Core noninterest expense was impacted by $1.9 million of nonrecurring items related to the Cash Connect^® Client termination as well as favorable impacts of $2.3 million from Cash Connect^® external funding costs driven by interest rate decreases. Excluding these items, core noninterest expense increased $3.7 million, or 3% (not annualized), which was driven by higher compliance and risk-related professional fees, legal fees and medical benefit costs.

Core noninterest expense increased $27.2 million, or 19%, compared to 4Q 2023. Excluding the impact of the Cash Connect^® Client termination and additional external funding costs of $5.4 million (which were more than offset in fee revenue), core noninterest expense increased $20.0 million, or 15%, compared to 4Q 2023.

The $20.0 million increase was largely driven by $18.0 million in higher salaries and benefits as a result of talent additions, performance-based increases, and higher medical costs. The talent additions were concentrated in key business areas, such as Wealth and Trust, Commercial, and Technology. We continue to be a preferred platform for new talent as evidenced by two teams in Wealth and Trust that have recently joined us from competitors.

Our core efficiency ratio⁽⁶⁾ was 63.8% in 4Q 2024, compared to 61.1% in 3Q 2024 and 54.5% in 4Q 2023.

Income Taxes

We recorded a $20.2 million income tax provision in 4Q 2024, compared to $21.1 million in 3Q 2024 and $29.4 million in 4Q 2023. The quarter over quarter decrease is primarily due to lower income before taxes and the year over year decrease in income tax provision is primarily due to the surrender of bank-owned life insurance (BOLI) policies in 4Q 2023.

The effective tax rate was 23.9% in 4Q 2024 compared to 24.7% in 3Q 2024 and 31.6% in 4Q 2023. The decrease in effective tax rate for 4Q 2024 compared to 3Q 2024 was primarily driven by lower state taxes and impacts from renewable energy tax credits. The decrease in effective tax rate when compared to 4Q 2023 is attributable to the surrender of BOLI policies mentioned above. The full-year effective tax rate was 24.1% in 2024 compared to 26.3% in 2023.

Capital Management

Capital levels remain strong and are all substantially in excess of the “well-capitalized” regulatory benchmarks at December 31, 2024, with WSFS Bank’s Tier 1 leverage ratio of 11.03%, Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio and Tier 1 capital ratio of 13.88%, and Total Risk-based capital ratio of 15.13%.

WSFS’ total stockholders’ equity decreased $88.5 million, or 3% (not annualized), during 4Q 2024. The decrease was primarily due to an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $124.9 million, driven by market-value decreases on available-for-sale investment securities, and capital returns of $29.8 million to stockholders, comprising $20.9 million from share repurchases and $8.8 million from quarterly dividends. The decrease was partially offset by quarterly earnings of $64.2 million.

WSFS’ tangible common equity⁽⁷⁾ decreased $84.5 million, or 5% (not annualized), compared to September 30, 2024, primarily due to the reasons described above. WSFS’ common equity to assets ratio decreased 37bps to 12.44% during the quarter, and our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio⁽⁷⁾ was 8.08% at December 31, 2024, a decrease of 39bps, compared to the prior quarter.

At December 31, 2024, book value per share was $44.15, a decrease of $1.22, or 3% (not annualized), from September 30, 2024, and tangible book value per share was $27.30, a decrease of $1.26, or 4% (not annualized), from September 30, 2024. These decreases were due to the reasons described above. Book value per share increased $3.22, or 8%, and tangible book value per share increased $2.97, or 12%, compared to 4Q 2023.

During 4Q 2024, WSFS repurchased 393,238 shares of common stock for an aggregate of $20.9 million. As of December 31, 2024, WSFS has 3,291,854 shares, or approximately 6% of outstanding shares, remaining to repurchase under its current authorization. For the year, total capital returned to stockholders through share repurchases and quarterly dividends was $131.2 million.

The Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share of common stock. This dividend will be paid on February 21, 2025 to stockholders of record as of February 7, 2025.

Selected Business Segments (included in previous results):
Wealth Management

The Wealth Management segment provides a broad array of planning and advisory services, investment management, trust services, credit and deposit products to individual, corporate, and institutional Clients.

Selected quarterly performance results and metrics are as follows:

Wealth Management delivered a record quarter in fee revenue and earnings, with pre-tax income of $33.1 million, which increased $2.7 million, or 9% (not annualized), compared to 3Q 2024. Net interest income increased $1.5 million, as average deposits were $222.0 million higher than 3Q 2024. Fee revenue increased $3.0 million from 3Q 2024, due to growth across all business areas, including Institutional Services, BMT of DE, and Private Wealth Management. Total noninterest expense increased $1.5 million, compared to 3Q 2024, mostly due to performance-based compensation and higher technology costs.

Wealth Management pre-tax income increased $5.6 million, or 20%, compared to 4Q 2023 due to higher fee revenue and net interest income. Net interest income increased $4.7 million mostly due to higher deposit balances. Fee revenue increased $4.3 million, or 12%, compared to 4Q 2023, due to growth in Institutional Services, Private Wealth Management, and BMT of DE. Total noninterest expense increased $2.9 million driven by salaries and benefits expense from hiring new advisors and performance-based compensation.

Net AUM of $9.2 billion at the end of 4Q 2024 decreased $0.1 billion, or 2%, compared to 3Q 2024, and increased $0.5 billion, or 6%, compared to 4Q 2023. AUM balances compared to the prior quarter were largely driven by declines in broader equity markets and some net outflows.

Cash Connect^®

Cash Connect ^® is a premier provider of ATM vault cash, smart safe and cash logistics services in the United States, servicing non-bank ATMs and smart safes nationwide and supporting ATMs for WSFS Bank Customers with one of the largest branded ATM networks in our region.

Selected quarterly financial results and metrics are as follows:

During the fourth quarter, WSFS terminated a relationship with a long-standing Cash Connect^® Client as a result of negative events in the Client's overall business portfolio. Due to this termination, Cash Connect^® recorded a loss of $3.4 million in 4Q 2024, driven by one-time charges totaling $4.7 million, including $2.8 million in uncollectible fees and $1.9 million in noninterest expense. We are actively engaged in the recovery of these costs through our insurance policies and other avenues, where appropriate. The table below summarizes the impact of these charges.

Excluding the impacts of the terminated relationship, net revenue was $24.6 million, a decrease of $3.0 million compared to 3Q 2024 and pre-tax income was $1.4 million, a decrease of $0.3 million. The decrease in net revenue was driven by $2.1 million related to interest rate reductions (which were offset in noninterest expense) and $1.5 million related to seasonally lower ATM volume, which also impacted pre-tax income.

Excluding the impacts of the terminated relationship, pre-tax net income decreased $0.2 million compared to 4Q 2023. The decrease was primarily driven by higher vault-related expenses, partially offset by the benefit from lower rates.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Earnings Release Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call to review 4Q 2024 results at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Interested parties may access the conference call live on our Investor Relations website (https://investors.wsfsbank.com). For those who cannot access the live conference call, a replay will be accessible shortly after the event concludes through our Investor Relations website.

About WSFS Financial Corporation

WSFS Financial Corporation is a multibillion-dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally headquartered bank and trust company in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware region. As of December 31, 2024, WSFS Financial Corporation had $20.8 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $89.4 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 114 offices, 88 of which are banking offices, located in Pennsylvania (57), Delaware (39), New Jersey (14), Florida (2), Nevada (1) and Virginia (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, consumer banking, treasury management and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Arrow Land Transfer, Bryn Mawr Capital Management, LLC, Bryn Mawr Trust^®, The Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware, Cash Connect^®, NewLane Finance^®, Powdermill^® Financial Solutions, WSFS Institutional Services^®, WSFS Mortgage^®, and WSFS Wealth^® Investments. Serving the Greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit www.wsfsbank.com.

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See “Notes”

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains estimates, predictions, opinions, projections and other "forward-looking statements" as that phrase is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, without limitation, references to the Company's predictions or expectations of future business or financial performance as well as its goals and objectives for future operations, financial and business trends, business prospects, and management's outlook or expectations for earnings, revenues, expenses, capital levels, liquidity levels, asset quality or other future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “target,” “project” and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions (some of which may be beyond the Company's control) and are subject to risks and uncertainties (which change over time) and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, difficult market conditions and unfavorable economic trends in the United States generally and in financial markets, particularly in the markets in which the Company operates and in which its loans are concentrated, including difficult and unfavorable conditions and trends related to housing markets, costs of living, unemployment levels, interest rates, supply chain issues, inflation, and economic growth; the impacts related to or resulting from bank failures and other economic and industry volatility, including potential increased regulatory requirements and costs and potential impacts to macroeconomic conditions; changes in market interest rates which may increase funding costs and reduce earning asset yields and thus reduce margin; the impact of changes in interest rates and the credit quality and strength of underlying collateral and the effect of such changes on the market value of the Company's investment securities portfolio, which could impact market confidence in the Company’s operations; possible additional loan losses and impairment of the collectability of loans; the Company's level of nonperforming assets and the costs associated with resolving problem loans including litigation and other costs and complying with government-imposed foreclosure moratoriums; , the credit risk associated with the substantial amount of commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, and construction and land development loans in the Company's loan portfolio; the extensive federal and state regulation, supervision and examination governing almost every aspect of the Company's operations and potential expenses associated with complying with such regulations; the Company's ability to comply with applicable capital and liquidity requirements, including its ability to generate liquidity internally or raise capital on favorable terms; possible changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and stimulus programs, laws and regulations and other activities of governments, agencies, and similar organizations, and the uncertainty of the short- and long-term impacts of such changes; any impairments of the Company's goodwill or other intangible assets; the success of the Company's growth plans; failure of the financial and/or operational controls of the Company's Cash Connect^® and/or Wealth Management segments; negative perceptions or publicity with respect to the Company generally and, in particular, the Company's trust and wealth management business; adverse judgments or other resolution of pending and future legal proceedings, and cost incurred in defending such proceedings; the Company's reliance on third parties for certain important functions, including the operation of its core systems, and any failures by such third parties; system failures or cybersecurity incidents or other breaches of the Company's network security, particularly given remote working arrangements; the Company's ability to recruit and retain key Associates; the effects of weather, including climate change, and natural disasters such as floods, droughts, wind, tornadoes and hurricanes as well as effects from geopolitical instability, armed conflicts, public health crises and man-made disasters including terrorist attacks; the effects of regional or national civil unrest (including any resulting branch or ATM closures or damage); possible changes in the speed of loan prepayments by the Company's Customers and loan origination or sales volumes; possible changes in market valuations and/or the speed of prepayments of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) due to changes in the interest rate environment, and the related acceleration of premium amortization on prepayments in the event that prepayments accelerate; regulatory limits on the Company's ability to receive dividends from its subsidiaries and pay dividends to its stockholders; any reputation, credit, interest rate, market, operational, litigation, legal, liquidity, regulatory and compliance risk resulting from developments related to any of the risks discussed above; any compounding effects or unexpected interactions of the risks discussed above; and other risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, June 30, 2024, and September 30,2024, and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims any duty to revise or update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company for any reason, except as specifically required by law. As used in this press release, the terms "WSFS," "the Company," "registrant," "we," "us," and "our" mean WSFS Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, unless the context indicates otherwise.

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