WEST BANCORPORATION INC

The following discussion describes the consolidated operations and financial condition of the Company, West Bank and West Bank's special purpose subsidiaries (which are invested in new markets tax credit activities). Results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 are compared to the results for the same periods in 2023, and the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of June 30, 2024 is compared to that as of December 31, 2023. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2024.

The Company conducts business from its main office in West Des Moines, Iowa and through its branch offices in central Iowa, which is generally the greater Des Moines metropolitan area; eastern Iowa, which is the area including and surrounding Iowa City and Coralville; and southern Minnesota, which includes the cities of Rochester, Owatonna, Mankato and St. Cloud.

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2024 was $5,192, or $0.31 per diluted common share, compared to $5,862, or $0.35 per diluted common share, for the three months ended June 30, 2023. The Company's annualized return on average assets and return on average equity for the three months ended June 30, 2024 were 0.53 percent and 9.50 percent, respectively, compared to 0.64 percent and 11.03 percent, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2023.

Net interest income for the three months ended June 30, 2024 declined $111, or 0.6 percent, compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to the increase in interest expense on deposits, resulting from higher short-term interest rates and changes in deposit mix, partially offset by an increase in interest income on loans.

Noninterest income decreased $43 for the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Noninterest expense increased $720 during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to increases in occupancy and equipment, technology and software expense and FDIC insurance, partially offset by a decrease in business development expenses.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 was $11,001, or $0.65 per diluted common share, compared to $13,706, or $0.82 per diluted common share, for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The Company's annualized return on average assets and return on average equity for the six months ended June 30, 2024 were 0.57 percent and 10.07 percent, respectively, compared to 0.76 percent and 12.90 percent, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2024 declined $2,056, or 5.7 percent, compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease in net interest income was primarily due to the increase in interest expense on deposits and other borrowings, resulting from rapidly rising short-term interest rates and changes in funding mix, partially offset by an increase in interest income on loans.

Noninterest income decreased $701 for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, primarily due to a nonrecurring gain from bank-owned life insurance in 2023. Noninterest expense increased $517 during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to increases in occupancy and equipment, technology and software expense and FDIC insurance, partially offset by a decrease in business development expenses.

Total loans outstanding increased $71,239, or 2.4 percent, during the first six months of 2024. The credit quality of the loan portfolio remained strong, as evidenced by the Company's ratio of nonperforming loans to total assets of 0.01 percent as of both June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. As of June 30, 2024, the allowance for credit losses was 0.95 percent of total outstanding loans, compared to 0.97 percent as of December 31, 2023. Management believed the allowance for credit losses at June 30, 2024 was adequate to absorb expected losses in the loan portfolio as of that date.

On a quarterly basis, the Company compares three key performance metrics to those of our identified peer group. The peer group for 2024 consists of 22 Midwestern, publicly traded financial institutions, including Bank First Corporation, Bridgewater Bancshares Inc., ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., Civista Bancshares, Inc., CrossFirst Bankshares, Inc., Equity Bancshares, Inc., Farmers National Banc Corp., Farmers & Merchants Bancorp., First Business Financial Services, Inc., First Financial Corp., First Mid Bancshares, Inc., German American Bancorp, Inc., HBT Financial Inc., Hills Bancorporation, Isabella Bank Corporation, LCNB Corp., Macatawa Bank Corporation, Mercantile Bank Corporation, MidWest One Financial Group, Inc., Nicolet Bankshares, Inc., Peoples Bancorp, Inc., and Southern Missouri Bancorp, Inc. The Company is in the middle of the group in terms of asset size. The Company's goal is to perform at or near the top of this peer group relative to what we consider to be three key metrics: return on average equity, efficiency ratio and nonperforming assets to total assets. We believe these measures encompass the factors that define the performance of a community bank. Company and peer results for the key financial performance measures are summarized below.

(1) The efficiency ratio is a non-GAAP financial measure. For further information, refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this report.

(2) Latest data available.

At its meeting on July 24, 2024, the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per common share. The dividend is payable on August 21, 2024, to stockholders of record on August 7, 2024.