First Business Bank Reports Strong Fourth Quarter 2021 Net Income of $8.6 Million

-- Record loan growth, expansion of diversified fee income, continued improvement in asset quality metrics, and provision benefit highlight quarterly performance --

First Business Financial Services, Inc. (the “Company”, the “Bank”, or “First Business Bank”) (Nasdaq:FBIZ) reported net income of $8.6 million, or $1.01 diluted earnings per share, in the fourth quarter of 2021. The Company reported net income of $9.2 million, or $1.07 per share, in the third quarter of 2021 and $6.1 million, or $0.71, in the fourth quarter of 2020. For the full year 2021, the Company reported net income of $35.8 million, or $4.17 per share, compared to $17.0 million, or $1.97 per share, in 2020.

“First Business Bank’s fourth quarter reflects a continuation of the strong performance our team has achieved throughout 2021, highlighted by record loan growth for both the quarter and year and continued improvement in our already strong asset quality metrics which resulted in a loan loss provision benefit in the quarter,” President and Chief Executive Officer Corey Chambas said. “As we look ahead to 2022, we see ample runway for continued above-market performance. Our lending pipelines are robust, giving us confidence in our ability to drive double-digit loan growth again in 2022. In addition, we see potential for continued reserve release in 2022.”

Quarterly and Annual Highlights

• Continued Robust Loan Growth. Loans, excluding Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans, grew a record $153.3 million, or 29.8% annualized, from the third quarter of 2021 and $291.5 million, or 15.2%, from the fourth quarter of 2020, as the Company continued to expand its traditional lending throughout its geographies and grow its specialized lending mix.

• Strong In-Market Deposit Growth. Total period-end in-market deposits grew by $98.6 million, or 21.6% annualized, from the third quarter of 2021 and $245.3 million, or 14.6%, from the fourth quarter of 2020. Period-end in-market deposits represent 82.9% of total Bank funding at December 31, 2021 compared to 74.8% at December 31, 2020.

• Expanded Fee Income. Non-interest income grew by $554,000, or 7.9%, and $770,000, or 11.3%, from the linked quarter and prior year quarter, respectively, to $7.6 million and made up 26.6% of top line revenue, as the Company continued to expand its diversified fee income streams. Revenue from private wealth management reached a record of $2.9 million on $2.921 billion in assets under management and administration for the period, while gains on the sale of Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans were $1.0 million and commercial loan interest rate swap fee income was $684,000.

• Further Improvement of Asset Quality Metrics. Non-performing assets declined 14.2% to $6.5 million, or 0.25% of total assets, improving by 4 and 79 basis points from September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company had no material active COVID-19 loan modifications as of December 31, 2021.

• Compounding Tangible Book Value. Tangible Book Value per share grew by 14.7% annualized in the quarter to $26.03, which is nearly double the ten-year compound annual growth rate of 8%.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Compared to Third Quarter 2021

Net interest income decreased $299,000, or 1.4%, to $20.9 million.

• Net interest income decreased primarily due to a reduction in fees in lieu of interest. Fees in lieu of interest, which can vary from quarter to quarter based on client-driven activity, totaled $1.7 million, compared to $2.8 million, and included $892,000 and $1.7 million in PPP fees, respectively. Excluding fees collected in lieu of interest and interest income from PPP loans, net interest income increased $927,000, or 20.4% annualized.

• Average loans and leases receivable, excluding net PPP loans in both periods of comparison, increased $83.3 million, or 16.3% annualized, to $2.127 billion.

• The yield on average interest-earning assets decreased nine basis points to 3.81% from 3.90%. Excluding average net PPP loans, the PPP loan interest income of $134,000, and the aforementioned fees in lieu of interest, the yield earned on average interest-earning assets increased seven basis points to 3.60% from 3.53%. The rate paid for average total bank funding decreased three basis point to 0.33% from 0.36%. Total bank funding is defined as total deposits plus Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) and Federal Reserve Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity (“PPPLF”) advances, if any.

• Net interest margin decreased six basis points to 3.39% from 3.45%. Adjusted net interest margin was 3.23%, up one basis point compared to 3.22% in the linked quarter. Adjusted net interest margin is a non-GAAP measure representing net interest income excluding fees in lieu of interest and other recurring but volatile components of net interest margin divided by average interest-earning assets less average net PPP loans and other recurring but volatile components of average interest-earning assets such as excess liquidity and non-accrual loans. Due to significant loan growth in 2021 and expectations for low double-digit growth in 2022, management believes excess liquidity will revert back to historical averages in 2022.

• The Bank maintained its historically neutral-to-asset-sensitive balance sheet through 2021 and ended the year appropriately positioned for net interest income to benefit from rising short-term interest rates in 2022.

The Company reported a net benefit to provision for loan and lease losses of $508,000, compared to a $2.3 million benefit in the third quarter of 2021.

• The benefit to provision for loan and lease losses in the fourth quarter of 2021 was primarily due to a $862,000 reduction in the general reserve from improving historical loss rates and an $805,000 reduction due to qualitative risk factor improvements, which were partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in the general reserve due to loan growth.

• The benefit to provision in the third quarter of 2021 was primarily due to a $923,000 reduction in the general reserve from improving historical loss rates, $1.3 million in net recoveries, and a $451,000 decrease in specific reserves. These decreases were partially offset by a $426,000 increase in the general reserve due to loan growth.

Non-interest income increased $554,000, or 7.9%, to $7.6 million.

• Private wealth management fee income increased $115,000, or 4.2% to $2.9 million. Private wealth and trust assets under management and administration measured a record $2.921 billion at December 31, 2021, up $173.0 million, or 25.2% annualized, primarily due to growth from new and existing clients.

• Gains on sale of SBA loans increased $321,000 to $1.0 million. Management believes SBA 7a loan production, while variable based on timing of closings, will continue to increase annually at a measured pace.

• Commercial loan interest rate swap fee income was $684,000. In the linked third quarter the Company reported no swap fee income, which can vary from period to period based on client demand and the interest rate environment.

• Other fee income decreased $599,000 to $1.3 million, compared to $1.9 million in the third quarter, when the Company recorded higher than typical returns from its investments in mezzanine funds.

Non-interest expense decreased $959,000, or 5.2%, to $17.5 million, while operating expense decreased $902,000, or 4.9%, to $17.6 million.

• Compensation expense was $12.4 million, reflecting a decrease of $904,000, or 6.8%, from the linked third quarter primarily due to a decrease in average full-time equivalent employees (“FTE”) in the fourth quarter and an increase to the Company’s performance-based incentive compensation accruals in the third quarter of 2021 as a result of strong company performance relative to bonus criteria. Average FTEs for the fourth quarter of 2021 were 301, down 10 from 311 in the linked quarter. The Company’s compensation philosophy is to provide base salaries competitive with the market. Given the incredibly competitive job market and the critical importance to the Company of retaining employees, annual base salaries were increased an additional $650,000, or approximately 2%, more in 2022 than the Company’s historical average annual merit increase.

• Other non-interest expense increased $185,000 to $904,000, due to an increase in the credit valuation adjustment related to the commercial loan interest rate swap program and a seasonal fourth quarter increase in charitable donations.

The full year effective tax rate for 2021 was 23.96%. For 2022, the Company expects to report an effective tax rate of 22%-23%, excluding discrete items, as management intends to continue actively pursuing tax credit opportunities.

Total period-end loans and leases receivable, excluding net PPP loans in both periods of comparison, increased $153.3 million, or 29.8% annualized, to $2.212 billion. This growth rate is not sustainable and was primarily due to an unusually high number of loan closings in the quarter and a negligible amount of payoffs. Management believes loan growth will moderate to low double-digits as the Company’s specialized lending products scale over time.

• Commercial and industrial (“C&I”) loans, excluding net PPP loans, increased $86.9 million, or 56.4% annualized, led by First Business Bank’s conventional commercial lending, as well as specialized commercial lending which represents 20.0% of total loans, up from 17.0% last year. Management believes the timely prior-period investments in the Company’s specialized lending business lines, such as dealer floorplan financing, small-ticket equipment vendor financing, accounts receivable financing, and asset based lending have positioned C&I lending for strong and sustainable growth.

• Commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans increased by $66.9 million, or 19.3% annualized, to $1.455 billion, compared to $1.388 billion, as new production more than offset payoffs and paydowns. This increase was driven by term financing of existing non-owner-occupied real estate, as well as financing of construction projects where the Bank will also be the source of permanent financing when construction is complete.

Total period-end in-market deposits increased $98.6 million, or 21.6% annualized, to $1.928 billion, compared to $1.830 billion, and the average rate paid decreased one basis point to 0.13%.

• Non-interest bearing transaction accounts and money market accounts increased $63.5 million and $25.7 million, respectively, during the quarter.

Period-end wholesale funding, including FHLB advances, Federal Reserve PPPLF advances, brokered deposits, and deposits gathered through internet deposit listing services, decreased $34.0 million to $398.4 million.

• Wholesale deposits decreased $45.0 million to $29.6 million. The average rate paid on wholesale deposits increased 11 basis points to 1.03% and the weighted average original maturity of brokered certificates of deposit increased to 3.8 years from 3.5 years.

• FHLB advances increased $11.0 million to $368.8 million. The average rate paid on FHLB advances increased one basis point to 1.30% and the weighted average original maturity decreased to 5.9 years from 6.1 years.

Non-performing assets decreased $1.1 million, or 14.2%, to $6.5 million, or 0.25% of total assets, compared to $7.6 million, or 0.29% of total assets. The reduction in non-performing assets was primarily due to loan payoffs and paydowns. Excluding net PPP loans, non-performing assets were 0.25% of total assets as of December 31, 2021, compared to 0.30% as of September 30, 2021.

The allowance for loan and lease losses decreased $340,000, or 1.4%, as an increase in the general reserve from loan growth was more than offset by a decrease in the historical loss rates, qualitative risk factors, and specific reserves.

• The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of total gross loans and leases was 1.09% compared to 1.16% as of September 30, 2021.

• Excluding net PPP loans, the allowance for loan and leases losses as a percent of total gross loans and leases was 1.10%, compared to 1.20% as of September 30, 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2020

Net interest income decreased $1.6 million, or 7.1%, to $20.9 million.

• The decrease in net interest income primarily reflects lower yields on average gross loans and leases and lower fees collected in lieu of interest. Fees in lieu of interest, which can vary from quarter to quarter based on client-driven activity, totaled $1.7 million, compared to $4.7 million, and included $892,000 and $3.3 million in PPP fees, respectively. Excluding fees collected in lieu of interest and interest income from PPP loans, net interest income increased $2.0 million, or 11.9%. Excluding net PPP loans, average gross loans and leases increased $223.4 million, or 11.7%.

• The yield on average interest-earning assets measured 3.81% compared to 4.22%. Excluding fees collected in lieu of interest, PPP loan interest income and net PPP loans, the yield on average interest-earning assets measured 3.60%, compared to 3.76%. This decrease in yield was primarily due to the decrease in LIBOR and related impact on variable-rate loans, in addition to the renewal of fixed-rate loans and reinvestment of cash flows from the securities portfolio at historically low interest rates. The rate paid for average total bank funding decreased 12 basis points to 0.33% from 0.45%.

• Net interest margin decreased 30 basis points to 3.39% from 3.69%. Adjusted net interest margin decreased two basis points to 3.23% from 3.25%.

The Company reported a net benefit to provision for loan and lease losses of $508,000, compared to provision expense of $4.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

• The benefit to provision for loan and lease losses in the fourth quarter of 2021 was primarily due to a $862,000 reduction in the general reserve from improving historical loss rates and an $805,000 reduction due to qualitative risk factor improvements, which were partially offset by a $1.4 million increase in the general reserve due to loan growth.

• The provision expense in the fourth quarter of 2020 included $6.7 million in charge-offs, which were partially offset by the release of $5.2 million in related specific reserves. Changes in the general reserve increased the provision for loan and lease losses $1.3 million due to historical loss rate updates from net charge-off activity, $1.0 million due to qualitative factor changes in our commercial real estate portfolio, and $639,000 due to loan growth.

Non-interest income of $7.6 million increased by $770,000, or 11.3%, from $6.8 million in the prior year period.

• Private wealth management fee income increased $666,000, or 30.2%, to $2.9 million. Private wealth and trust assets under management and administration measured a record $2.921 billion at December 31, 2021, up $671.7 million, or 29.9%.

• Loan fees of $679,000 increased by $267,000, or 64.8%, primarily due to an increase in conventional, SBA, and floorplan financing activity generating additional processing and service fee income.

• Gains on sale of SBA loans decreased $258,000 to $1.0 million. Management believes SBA 7a loan production, while variable based on timing of closings, will continue to increase annually at a measured pace.

• Commercial loan interest rate swap fee income was $684,000, compared to $1.1 million in the year-ago period. Swap fee income varies from period to period based on client demand and the interest rate environment in any given quarter.

• Other fee income increased $353,000, or 38.6%, to $1.3 million compared to $914,000, primarily due to higher returns from the Company’s investments in mezzanine funds.

Non-interest expense decreased $120,000, or 0.7%, to $17.5 million. Operating expense increased $53,000, or 0.3%, to $17.6 million.

• FDIC insurance decreased $269,000 from $479,000 to $210,000. The decrease was primarily due to improved asset quality and an increase in pre-tax return on average assets.

• During the fourth quarter 2020, the Corporation recognized $328,000 in expense due to the remaining impairment of a federal historic tax credit and community development entity investment, which corresponded with the recognition of $383,000 in tax credits during the quarter. No tax credit investments were recognized in the fourth quarter of 2021.

• Compensation expense increased $302,000, or 2.5%, to $12.4 million. Average FTE were 301 for both the fourth quarter of 2021 and 2020.

Total period-end loans and leases receivable, excluding net PPP loans in both periods of comparison, increased $291.5 million, or 15.2%, to $2.212 billion.

• C&I loans, excluding net PPP loans, increased $196.5 million, or 38.8%, due to an increase in both conventional and specialized lending. This above average growth rate is not sustainable and will moderate to lower double-digits as the Company’s specialized lending products scale over time.

• CRE loans increased $95.5 million, or 7.0%, primarily due to an increase in non-owner-occupied real estate.

Total period-end in-market deposits increased $245.3 million, or 14.6%, to $1.928 billion and the average rate paid decreased seven basis points to 0.13%.

• Transaction and money market accounts increased $143.0 million and $112.9 million, respectively, while certificates of deposits decreased $10.6 million.

Period-end wholesale funding decreased $168.6 million to $398.4 million.

• Wholesale deposits decreased $142.9 million to $29.6 million, compared to $172.5 million, as the existing portfolio runoff was replaced by in-market deposits. The average rate paid on brokered certificates of deposit increased seven basis points to 1.03% and the weighted average original maturity decreased to 3.8 years from 4.3 years.

• FHLB advances decreased $25.7 million to $368.8 million. The average rate paid on FHLB advances was 1.30% in both periods of comparison and the weighted average original maturity increased to 5.9 years from 5.1 years.

Non-performing assets decreased to $6.5 million, or 0.25% of total assets, compared to $26.7 million, or 1.04% of total assets. Excluding net PPP loans, non-performing assets decreased to 0.25% of total assets as of December 31, 2021 compared to 1.14% one year prior.

The allowance for loan and lease losses decreased $4.2 million to $24.3 million, compared to $28.5 million.

• The allowance for loan and lease losses as a percent of total gross loans and leases was 1.09% compared to 1.33%.

• Excluding net PPP loans, the allowance for loan and leases losses as a percent of total gross loans and leases was 1.10% as of December 31, 2021 compared to 1.48% one year prior.

Paycheck Protection Program

As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $27.9 million in gross PPP loans outstanding and deferred processing fees outstanding of $557,000. The processing fees are deferred and recognized over the contractual life of the loan, or accelerated at forgiveness, as an adjustment of yield using the interest method. During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021, the Company recognized $892,000 and $7.3 million of processing fees in loans and leases interest income in the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income, respectively, compared to $3.3 million and $5.3 million for three and twelve months ended December 30, 2020, respectively. The SBA provides a guaranty to the lender of 100% of principal and interest, unless the lender violated an obligation under the agreement. Since loan losses are expected to be immaterial, if at all due to the government guarantee, management excluded the PPP loans from the allowance for loan and lease losses calculation. These short-term loans were funded primarily through a combination of excess cash held at the Federal Reserve and from an increase in in-market deposits.

Share Repurchase Program Update

During the fourth quarter the Company repurchased a total of 24,631 shares for approximately $716,000 at an average cost of $29.05 per share. The Company had no repurchase authority remaining as of December 31, 2021 in its previously disclosed share repurchase program.

About First Business Financial Services, Inc.

First Business Financial Services, Inc., (Nasdaq: FBIZ) is the parent company of First Business Bank. First Business Bank specializes in Business Banking, including Commercial Banking and Specialized Lending, Private Wealth, and Bank Consulting services, and through its refined focus, delivers unmatched expertise, accessibility, and responsiveness. Specialized Lending solutions are delivered through First Business Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary First Business Specialty Finance, LLC. For additional information, visit www.firstbusiness.bank.

This release may include forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect First Business Bank’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical information, but rather are related to future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations as well as certain assumptions and estimates made by, and information available to, management at the time the statements are made. Those statements are based on general assumptions and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the views, beliefs, and projections expressed in such statements. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including among other things:

• Adverse changes in the economy or business conditions, either nationally or in the Company’s markets, including, without limitation, the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global, national, and local economy.

• The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s credit quality, revenue, and business operations.

• Competitive pressures among depository and other financial institutions nationally and in the Company’s markets.

• Increases in defaults by borrowers and other delinquencies.

• Management’s ability to manage growth effectively, including the successful expansion of our client service, administrative infrastructure, and internal management systems.

• Fluctuations in interest rates and market prices.

• Changes in legislative or regulatory requirements applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries.

• Changes in tax requirements, including tax rate changes, new tax laws, and revised tax law interpretations.

• Fraud, including client and system failure or breaches of our network security, including the Company’s internet banking activities.

• Failure to comply with the applicable SBA regulations in order to maintain the eligibility of the guaranteed portion of SBA loans.

For further information about the factors that could affect the Company’s future results, please see the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.