Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

Investar Holding Corporation Announces 2021 Third Quarter Results

BATON ROUGE, LA / ACCESSWIRE / October 21, 2021 / Investar Holding Corporation (“Investar”) (NASDAQ:ISTR), the holding company for Investar Bank, National Association (the “Bank”), today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. Investar reported a net loss of $10.0 million, or $0.95 per diluted common share, for the third quarter of 2021, compared to net income of $5.7 million, or $0.53 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, and net income of $4.5 million, or $0.41 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. As previously reported, Investar’s third quarter results reflect a large impairment charge recorded as a result of Hurricane Ida, discussed in more detail below under Credit Quality.

On a non-GAAP basis, core (loss) earnings per diluted common share for the third quarter of 2021 were ($1.06) compared to $0.53 for the first quarter of 2021 and $0.35 for the third quarter of 2020. Core (loss) earnings exclude certain non-operating items including, but not limited to, gain on sale of investment securities, change in the fair value of equity securities, and acquisition expense (refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures tables for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics).

Investar Holding Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer John D’Angelo said: 

“Our prayers go out to those families and businesses affected by Hurricane Ida, which hit south Louisiana as a category 4 hurricane on August 29. While none of our branches were significantly affected by the storm, some of our customers, employees, and their extended families were greatly impacted. As a member of the affected communities, we have set up programs to help employees and customers experiencing financial difficulty as a result of the hurricane. We will continue to assist our communities as they rebuild.

Unfortunately, our results for the quarter were adversely impacted by the storm that devastated some of our market areas. We recorded an impairment charge of $21.6 million which negatively affected our earnings and performance ratios. However, the Holding Corporation and Bank remain well-capitalized.”

Third Quarter Highlights

Loans

Total loans were $1.88 billion at September 30, 2021, a decrease of $67.2 million, or 3.4%, compared to June 30, 2021, and an increase of $51.0 million, or 2.8%, compared to September 30, 2020. Excluding loans acquired from Cheaha on April 1, 2021 with an aggregate balance of $110.1 million and $120.0 million at September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively, total loans decreased $57.2 million, or 3.1%, compared to June 30, 2021, and decreased $59.1 million, or 3.2%, compared to September 30, 2020. 

The following table sets forth the composition of the total loan portfolio as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

At September 30, 2021, Investar’s total business lending portfolio, which consists of loans secured by owner-occupied commercial real estate properties and commercial and industrial loans, was $767.9 million, a decrease of $40.9 million, or 5.1%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $808.8 million at June 30, 2021, and a decrease of $4.5 million, or 0.6%, compared to the business lending portfolio of $772.4 million at September 30, 2020. The decrease in the business lending portfolio compared to June 30, 2021 is primarily driven by the forgiveness of PPP loans and the impairment charge recorded as a result of Hurricane Ida.

Consumer loans totaled $19.3 million at September 30, 2021, a decrease of $3.2 million, or 14.3%, compared to $22.6 million at June 30, 2021, and a decrease of $3.3 million, or 14.6%, compared to $22.6 million at September 30, 2020. The decrease in consumer loans compared to June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 is mainly attributable to the scheduled paydowns of the indirect auto lending portfolio and is consistent with our business strategy. The decreases were slightly offset by the acquisition of Cheaha on April 1, 2021, which added approximately $6.1 million in consumer loans in the second quarter of 2021.

Our loan portfolio includes loans to businesses in certain industries that may be more significantly affected by the pandemic than others. These loans, including loans related to oil and gas, food services, hospitality, and entertainment, represent approximately 5.5% of our total portfolio, or 5.2% excluding PPP loans, at September 30, 2021, compared to 6.4% of our total portfolio, or 5.9% excluding PPP loans, at June 30, 2021 and 6.6% of our total portfolio, or 5.6% excluding PPP loans, at September 30, 2020 as shown in the table below.

Credit Quality

Nonperforming loans were $32.9 million, or 1.75% of total loans, at September 30, 2021, an increase of $12.0 million compared to $20.9 million, or 1.07% of total loans, at June 30, 2021, and an increase of $20.5 million compared to $12.4 million, or 0.68% of total loans, at September 30, 2020. The increase in nonperforming loans compared to June 30, 2021 is mainly attributable to one loan relationship, discussed further below, which added $15.5 million to the balance of nonperforming loans at September 30, 2021. Included in nonperforming loans are acquired loans with a balance of $5.3 million at September 30, 2021, or 16% of nonperforming loans.

The allowance for loan losses was $20.6 million, or 62.4% and 1.09% of nonperforming and total loans, respectively, at September 30, 2021, compared to $20.4 million, or 97.8% and 1.05%, respectively, at June 30, 2021, and $19.0 million, or 153.8% and 1.04%, respectively, at September 30, 2020.

The provision for loan losses was $21.7 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to $0.1 million and $2.5 million for the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively. The provision for loan losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 includes an impairment charge of $21.6 million related to a loan relationship with related borrowers (collectively, the “Borrower”) consisting of multiple loans that are secured by various types of collateral. As a result of Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in Louisiana as a category 4 hurricane on August 29, 2021, the Borrower’s business operations were disrupted causing a significant reduction in value of some of the collateral supporting the loan relationship, including real estate, inventory, and equipment. The impairment charge of $21.6 million is based on the estimated value of collateral with respect to the loan relationship at September 30, 2021.  

Deposits

Total deposits at September 30, 2021 were $2.30 billion, an increase of $43.5 million, or 1.9%, compared to $2.26 billion at June 30, 2021, and an increase of $469.2 million, or 25.6%, compared to $1.83 billion at September 30, 2020. Investar acquired approximately $207.0 million in deposits from Cheaha at the time of acquisition on April 1, 2021. The remaining increase is due to organic growth and brokered deposits. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant amount of excess liquidity in the market, and, as a result, we have experienced large increases in both noninterest and interest-bearing demand deposits, and in money market deposit accounts compared to June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020. These increases were primarily driven by reduced spending by consumer and business customers related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and increases in PPP borrowers’ deposit accounts. We believe these factors may be temporary depending on the future economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Bank utilized $125.0 million in brokered deposits in the third quarter of 2021 and $100.1 million in the second quarter of 2021, which are used to satisfy the required borrowings under its interest rate swap agreements, due to more favorable pricing.

Our deposit mix continues to improve and reflects our consistent focus on relationship banking and growing our commercial relationships, as well as the effects of the pandemic on consumer and business spending. Noninterest-bearing deposits as a percentage of total deposits has increased while time deposits as a percentage of total deposits has decreased. Management made a strategic decision to either reprice or run-off higher yielding time deposits and other interest-bearing deposit products during 2020 and 2021, which has contributed to our decreasing cost of deposits compared to the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020. 

The following table sets forth the composition of deposits as of the dates indicated (dollars in thousands).

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the third quarter of 2021 totaled $21.5 million, an increase of $0.4 million, or 1.8%, compared to the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of $2.8 million, or 15.2%, compared to the third quarter of 2020. Included in net interest income for the quarters ended September 30, 2021, June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 is $0.3 million, $0.5 million, and $0.2 million of interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans. Also included in net interest income for the quarters ended September 30, 2021, June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 are interest recoveries of $0.2 million,  $25,000, and $15,000, respectively.

Investar’s net interest margin was 3.44% for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to 3.48% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and 3.46% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in net interest margin for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 was driven by excess liquidity. The average balance of interest-bearing balances with banks for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, as shown on our net interest margin table, increased $81.4 million and $227.5 million compared to the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively, and resulted in a 12 and 34 basis point decrease in the net interest margin, respectively. The decrease in net interest margin resulting from excess liquidity for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 was partially offset by an eight basis point decrease in the cost of deposits compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021. Compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2020, the decrease in the net interest margin resulting from excess liquidity was partially offset by a 54 basis point decrease in the cost of deposits.

The yield on interest-earning assets was 3.91% for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to 4.00% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and 4.33% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 was a direct result of excess liquidity. The decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was driven by excess liquidity and a large decrease in the yield earned on investment securities. In response to the pandemic, during March 2020, the Federal Reserve reduced the federal funds rate 150 basis points to 0 to 0.25 percent, which has affected the yields that we earn on our interest-earning assets. In addition, the PPP loans originated have a contractual interest rate of 1% and origination fees based on the loan amount, which impacts the yield on our loan portfolio.

Exclusive of PPP loans, which had an average balance of $58.5 million and related interest and fee income of $1.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to an average balance of $96.0 million and related interest and fee income of $1.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and an average balance of $114.7 million and related interest and fee income of $0.8 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, adjusted net interest margin was 3.31% for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to an adjusted net interest margin of 3.41% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and 3.50% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. Included in PPP interest and fee income for the quarters ended September 30, 2021, June 30, 2021, and September 30, 2020 is $1.0 million, $0.6 million, and $0.1 million, respectively, of accelerated fee income recognized due to the forgiveness or pay-off of PPP loans. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.

Exclusive of the interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans, interest recoveries, and accelerated fee income recognized due to the forgiveness or pay-off of PPP loans, all discussed above, adjusted net interest margin decreased to 3.21% for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to 3.29% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, and 3.41% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The adjusted yield on interest-earning assets was 3.67% for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to 3.82% and 4.28% for the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, respectively. Refer to the Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures table for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP metrics.

The cost of deposits decreased eight basis points to 0.43% for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to 0.51% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and decreased 54 basis points compared to 0.97% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in the cost of deposits compared to the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 reflects the decrease in rates paid for all categories of interest-bearing deposits.

The overall costs of funds for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 decreased seven basis points to 0.63% compared to 0.70% for the quarter ended June 30, 2021 and decreased 53 basis points compared to 1.16% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020. The decrease in the cost of funds for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020 resulted from both lower cost of deposits and lower average balances of short-term borrowings, the costs of which are driven by the Federal Reserve’s federal funds rates.

Noninterest Income

Noninterest income for the third quarter of 2021 totaled $3.9 million, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 4.1%, compared to the second quarter of 2021 and an increase of $0.5 million, or 15.1%, compared to the third quarter of 2020. The decrease in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 was driven by a $1.7 million decrease in the gain on sale of investment securities and the $0.3 million decrease in other operating income, partially offset by the $1.8 million increase in swap termination fees. Swap termination fees were recorded when we voluntarily terminated a number of our interest rate swap agreements at the end of September 2021. The increase in noninterest income compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2020 is mainly attributable to a $1.8 million increase in swap termination fees, partially offset by decreases in the gain on sale of investment securities and other operating income. The decrease in other operating income compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was attributable to a $0.8 million decrease in derivative fee income.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2021 totaled $16.4 million, a decrease of $1.6 million, or 8.8%, compared to the second quarter of 2021, and an increase of $2.3 million, or 16.6%, compared to the third quarter of 2020. The decrease in noninterest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2021 was driven by a $1.2 million decrease in acquisition expense. The increase in noninterest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 compared to the quarter ended September 30, 2020 is primarily a result of a $1.5 million increase in salaries and employee benefits, as well as $0.4 million increases in both acquisition expense and other operating expenses. The increase in salaries and employee benefits is attributable to the acquisition of Cheaha, which added four branch locations and related staff, as well as an increase in health insurance claims and deferred compensation costs.

Taxes

Investar recorded an income tax benefit of $2.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, which equates to an effective tax rate of 21.0%, an increase from the effective tax rate of 20.7% at June 30, 2021 and increase from the effective tax rate of 19.6% for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

Investar reported basic and diluted loss per common share of $0.95 for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, compared to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.54 and $0.53 for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, and basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.41 for the quarter ended September 30, 2020.

About Investar Holding Corporation

Investar, headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, provides full banking services, excluding trust services, through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Investar Bank, National Association. The Bank currently operates 34 branch locations serving Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. At September 30, 2021, the Bank had 348 full-time equivalent employees and total assets of $2.7 billion.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. These measures and ratios include “tangible common equity,” “tangible assets,” “tangible equity to tangible assets,” “tangible book value per common share,” “core noninterest income,” “core earnings before noninterest expense,” “core noninterest expense,” “core (loss) earnings before income tax expense,” “core income tax (benefit) expense,” “core (loss) earnings,” “core efficiency ratio,” “core return on average assets,” “core return on average equity,” “core basic (loss) earnings per share,” and “core (loss) diluted earnings per share.” We also present certain average loan, yield, net interest income and net interest margin data adjusted to show the effects of excluding PPP loans, interest income accretion from the acquisition of loans, and interest recoveries. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide information useful to investors in understanding Investar’s financial results, and Investar believes that its presentation, together with the accompanying reconciliations, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting Investar’s business and allow investors to view performance in a manner similar to management, the entire financial services sector, bank stock analysts and bank regulators. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures and results, and Investar strongly encourages investors to review its consolidated financial statements in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies’ non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures disclosed in this press release to the comparable GAAP financial measures is included at the end of the financial statement tables.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect Investar’s current views with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Investar generally identifies forward-looking statements by terminology such as “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “predicts,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words. In addition, any of the following matters related to the pandemic may impact our financial results in future periods, and such impacts may be material depending on the length and severity of the pandemic and government and societal responses to it:

Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on the historical performance of Investar and its subsidiaries or on Investar’s current plans, estimates and expectations. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be regarded as a representation by Investar that the future plans, estimates or expectations by Investar will be achieved. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties and assumptions relating to Investar’s operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects, growth strategy and liquidity. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Investar’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, Investar’s actual results may vary materially from those indicated in these statements. Investar does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following, any one or more of which could materially affect the outcome of future events:

These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Additional information on these and other risk factors can be found in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and in the “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Investar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

For further information contact:

Investar Holding Corporation   

Chris Hufft

Chief Financial Officer

(225) 227-2215

Chris.Hufft@investarbank.com