Second Quarter Highlights

• Net income of $4.5 million, up $1.8 million, compared to $2.7 million for second quarter of 2020
• Diluted earnings per share of $1.00, up $0.42, compared to $0.58 for second quarter of 2020
• Gain on sale of real estate owned of $1.5 million, compared to none for second quarter of 2020
• Provision for loan losses of ($0.9) million, down $1.2 million from $0.3 million for second quarter of 2020
• Net interest income of $7.7 million, up $0.6 million from $7.1 million for second quarter of 2020
• Net interest margin of 3.27%, down 30 basis points from 3.57% for second quarter of 2020

Year to Date Highlights

• Net income of $7.9 million, up $3.8 million, compared to $4.1 million for first six months of 2020� � � � � � � � � �
• Diluted earnings per share of $1.74, up $0.86, compared to $0.88 for first six months of 2020
• Provision for loan losses of ($1.5) million, down $2.3 million from $0.8 million for first six months of 2020
• Gain on sale of real estate owned of $1.5 million, compared to none for first six months of 2020
• Net interest income of $15.1 million, up $1.0 million from $14.1 million for first six months of 2020
• Net interest margin of 3.31%, down 35 basis points from 3.66% for first six months of 2020

Net Income Summary

ROCHESTER, Minn., July 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMN Financial, Inc. (HMN or the Company) (Nasdaq:HMNF), the $981 million holding company for Home Federal Savings Bank (the Bank), today reported net income of $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $1.8 million, compared to net income of $2.7 million for the second quarter of 2020.� Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2021 was $1.00, an increase of $0.42 from the diluted earnings per share of $0.58 for the second quarter of 2020.� The increase in net income between the periods was primarily because of a $1.6 million increase in other non-interest income primarily related to a gain that was realized on the sale of real estate owned, a $1.2 million decrease in the provision for loan losses primarily because of the recovery of a previously charged off commercial real estate loan and the reduction of qualitative reserves related to improvements in the economic environment because of the lessened impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a $0.6 million increase in net interest income primarily related to the yield enhancements realized on PPP loans that were repaid during the period. These increases in net income were partially offset by a $0.7 million decrease in the gain on sales of loans due to a decrease in mortgage loan originations, a $0.7 million increase in income tax expense as a result of the increase in pre-tax income between the periods, and a $0.3 million increase in non-interest expenses primarily related to an increase in compensation expense.�

President�s Statement
�We are pleased to report the positive quarterly financial results that include a gain from the sale of a long term commercial real estate asset, solid loan sale gains from our mortgage loan origination activity, and a credit loan loss provision which reflects the improving economic landscape,� said Bradley Krehbiel, President and Chief Executive Officer of HMN.� �We are also pleased with the asset growth that we experienced over the past year and the positive impact it had on our net interest income.��

Second Quarter Results

Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $7.7 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $0.6 million, or 7.6%, compared to $7.1 million for the second quarter of 2020.� Interest income was $8.1 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $0.2 million, or 2.7%, from $7.9 million for the second quarter of 2020. Interest income increased primarily because of the $0.6 million in yield enhancements recognized on PPP loans that were repaid during the period. Interest income also increased because of the $139.4 million increase in the average interest-earning assets between the periods.� These increases in interest income were partially offset by a decrease in the average yield earned on interest-earning assets which was 3.44% for the second quarter of 2021, a decrease of 50 basis points from 3.94% for the second quarter of 2020.� The decrease in the average yield is primarily related to the decrease in the prime rate that occurred in the first quarter of 2020, which lowered the rate on adjustable rate loans in the portfolio as well as any new or renewing fixed rate loans that were originated since that time.

Interest expense was $0.4 million for the second quarter of 2021, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 45.0%, compared to $0.7 million for the second quarter of 2020. Interest expense decreased despite the $127.7 million increase in the average interest-bearing liabilities and non-interest bearing deposits between the periods primarily because of the decrease in the average interest rate paid on deposits. The average interest rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities and non-interest bearing deposits was 0.19% for the second quarter of 2021, a decrease of 21 basis points from 0.40% for the second quarter of 2020. The decrease in the interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities was primarily because of the decrease in deposit rates as a result of the decrease in the federal funds rate in the first quarter of 2020.� Net interest margin (net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets) for the second quarter of 2021 was 3.27%, a decrease of 30 basis points, compared to 3.57% for the second quarter of 2020.� The decrease in the net interest margin is primarily related to the decrease in the average yield earned on interest-earning assets as a result of the decrease in the prime rate that occurred in the first quarter of 2020.

A summary of the Company�s net interest margin for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:

Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses was ($0.9) million for the second quarter of 2021, a decrease of $1.2 million compared to $0.3 million for the second quarter of 2020.� The provision for loan losses decreased between the periods primarily because of the increase in the recoveries received in the current period when compared to the same period of 2020 and also because of improvements in the economic environment because of the lessened impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during the current period. �During 2020, the Company increased its allowance for loan losses due to the changes in the economic environment related to the disruption in business activity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of the increase in the allowance for loan losses related to the economic environment was based, in part, on the amount of loans to borrowers in the hospitality, restaurant and entertainment industries that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.� At June 30, 2021, the Bank had $33.5 million of loans that had been granted loan accommodations in accordance with Section 4013 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The accommodations granted included $29.2 million of loans that are required to make interest only payments for periods up to December 31, 2021 and $4.3 million of loans that had their loan amortization period increased.� Of these loans, $5.7 million were classified but still accruing at June 30, 2021 and all of these loans were current with their agreed upon payments.� The commercial credit area continues to communicate regularly with the borrowers that have been granted loan accommodations and monitors their activity closely.� This information is used to analyze the performance of these loans and to anticipate any potential issues that these loans may develop so that risk ratings may be appropriately adjusted in a timely manner.� It is anticipated that most of the remaining borrowers that have been granted accommodations will be in a position to resume making their regular loan payments at the end of the initial accommodation period.� Other borrowers, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant industries, may need additional accommodations when their initial accommodation period ends as their operations may need more time to recover from the impact of the pandemic.�

The allowance for loan losses is made up of general reserves on the entire loan portfolio and specific reserves on impaired loans.� The general reserve amount includes quantitative reserves based on our past loan loss history and qualitative reserves for other items determined to have a potential impact on future loan losses. The general reserves decreased during the quarter as a result of a decrease in the required qualitative reserves due to an improvement in business activity because of the lessened impact of COVID-19 pandemic resulting from increased vaccination rates and the removal of pandemic-focused restrictions during the period.� Despite the progress made in the vaccination of the general public during the period, it was determined that economic risks related to the pandemic continued to exist and more time was needed to prudently evaluate the impact that these risks would have on our loan portfolio before more qualitative reserves would be released from the allowance for loan losses.� Total non-performing assets were $1.8 million at June 30, 2021, a decrease of $1.4 million, or 45.1%, from $3.2 million at March 31, 2021.� Non-performing loans decreased $0.7 million and foreclosed and repossessed assets decreased $0.7 million during the second quarter of 2021.��

A reconciliation of the Company�s allowance for loan losses for the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is summarized as follows:

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The $0.7 million of recoveries relates primarily to a commercial loan in the transportation industry.� ����

The following table summarizes the amounts and categories of non-performing assets in the Bank�s portfolio and loan delinquency information as of the end of the three most recently completed quarters.
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Non-Interest Income and Expense
Non-interest income was $4.7 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $1.1 million, or 31.9%, from $3.6 million for the second quarter of 2020.� Other non-interest income increased $1.6 million due primarily to a $1.5 million gain that was realized on the sale of real estate owned.�� Fees and service charges increased $0.1 million between the periods due primarily to an increase in debit card income.� Loan servicing fees increased $0.1 million between the periods due to an increase in the aggregate balances of single family mortgage loans that were being serviced for others.� These increases in non-interest income were partially offset by a $0.7 million decrease in the gain on sales of loans primarily because of a decrease in single family loan originations and sales between the periods.� � � � � � � �

Non-interest expense was $7.0 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $0.3 million, or 4.9%, from $6.7 million for the second quarter of 2020.� Compensation and benefits expense increased $0.3 million primarily because of a decrease in the direct loan origination compensation costs that were deferred as a result of the decreased mortgage loan production between the periods.� Other non-interest expense increased $0.2 million due primarily to a decrease in the direct loan printing and supply costs that were deferred as a result of the decreased mortgage loan production and also because of an increase in charitable contributions between the periods. �Data processing expense increased slightly between the periods due to an increase in debit card processing costs because of increased activity.� These increases in non-interest expense were partially offset by a $0.2 million decrease in professional services expense between the periods primarily because of a decrease in legal expenses relating to an ongoing bankruptcy litigation claim.� Occupancy and equipment expense decreased slightly due to a decrease in the purchase of non-capitalized equipment between the periods. �

Income tax expense was $1.8 million for the second quarter of 2021, an increase of $0.7 million from $1.1 million for the second quarter of 2020.� The increase in income tax expense between the periods is primarily the result of an increase in pre-tax income.��

Paycheck Protection Program
The Bank actively participated in helping businesses that were negatively impacted by COVID-19 that applied for forgivable loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) as part of the CARES Act.� The CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, allocated $349 billion in funding to help small businesses that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.� The Bank had the following activity related to the first round of the PPP program during 2020 and through June 30, 2021:

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which was signed into law on December 27, 2020, allocated $284 billion to the SBA to fund a second round of the PPP and extended the application period for the program to March 31, 2021.� The application period was later extended to May 31, 2021. The Bank actively participated in the second round of the program and began submitting applications for borrowers on January 15, 2021 when the application window opened. The program was adjusted for the second round to allow applications from both first time borrowers and those that obtained loans during the first round of the program.� The revised program, among other things, requires that borrowers demonstrate or certify that they experienced a 25% or greater reduction in gross receipts from a quarter in 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019 and certify that current economic uncertainty makes the loan request necessary to support their ongoing operations.� The Bank had the following activity related to the second round of the PPP program through June 30, 2021:

It is anticipated that the majority of the outstanding loans at June 30, 2021 will be forgiven by the SBA.� The remaining net deferred fees will be recognized into income over the remaining lives of the loans.

Return on Assets and Equity
Return on average assets (annualized) for the second quarter of 2021 was 1.86%, compared to 1.29% for the second quarter of 2020.� Return on average equity (annualized) was 17.18% for the second quarter of 2021, compared to 11.31% for the second quarter of 2020.� Book value per common share at June 30, 2021 was $23.24, compared to $20.29 at June 30, 2020.

Six Month Period Results

Net Income�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Net income was $7.9 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2021, an increase of $3.8 million, or 94.9%, compared to net income of $4.1 million for the six month period ended June 30, 2020.� Diluted earnings per share for the six month period ended June 30, 2021 was $1.74, an increase of $0.86 per share compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.88 for the same period in 2020. �The increase in net income between the periods was primarily because of a $2.3 million decrease in the provision for loan losses.� The provision for loan losses decreased primarily because of the reduction of required qualitative reserves due to improvements in the economic environment because of the lessened impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and also because of an increase in the recoveries received on previously charged off loans between the periods.� Other non-interest income increased $1.7 million primarily because of the gain that was realized on the sale of real estate owned.� Net interest income increased $1.0 million primarily because of the increase in the yield enhancements that were realized on PPP loans that were repaid during the period.�� These increases in net income were partially offset by a $1.6 million increase in income tax expense as a result of the increase in pre-tax income between the periods.

Net Interest Income
Net interest income was $15.1 million for the first six months of 2021, an increase of $1.0 million, or 7.3%, compared to $14.1 million for the same period of 2020.� Interest income was $16.0 million for the first six months of 2021, an increase of $0.3 million, or 1.6%, from $15.7 million for the first six months of 2020.� Interest income increased primarily because of the $1.2 million in yield enhancements recognized on PPP loans that were repaid during the period. Interest income also increased because of the $146.9 million increase in the average interest-earning assets between the periods.� These increases in interest income were partially offset by a decrease in the average yield earned on interest-earning assets which was 3.50% for the first six months of 2021, a decrease of 59 basis points from 4.09% for the first six months of 2020.� The decrease in the average yield is primarily related to the decrease in the prime rate that occurred in the first quarter of 2020 which lowered the rate on adjustable rate loans in the portfolio as well as any new or renewing fixed rate loans that have been originated since that time.

Interest expense was $0.9 million for the first six months of 2021, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 47.3%, compared to $1.6 million for the same period of 2020.� Interest expense decreased despite the $137.4 million increase in the average interest-bearing liabilities and non-interest bearing deposits between the periods primarily because of the decrease in the average interest rate paid on deposits. The average interest rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities and non-interest bearing deposits was 0.21% for the first six months of 2021, a decrease of 26 basis points from 0.47% for the first six months of 2020. The decrease in the interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities was primarily because of the decrease in deposit rates as a result of the decrease in the average federal funds rate between the periods.� Net interest margin (net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets) for the first six months of 2021 was 3.31%, a decrease of 35 basis points, compared to 3.66% for the first six months of 2020.� The decrease in the net interest margin is primarily related to the decrease in the average yield earned on interest-earning assets as a result of the decrease in the average prime rate between the periods. �

Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses was ($1.5) million for the first six months of 2021, a decrease of $2.3 million compared to $0.8 million for the first six months of 2020. The provision for loan losses decreased primarily because of the reduction of qualitative reserves due to improvements in the economic environment because of the lessened impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and also because of an increase in the recoveries received on previously charged off loans between the periods.� During 2020, the Company increased its allowance for loan losses due to the changes in the economic environment related to the disruption in business activity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of the increase in the allowance for loan losses related to the economic environment was based, in part, on the amount of loans to borrowers in the hospitality, restaurant and entertainment industries that were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.� At June 30, 2021, the Bank had $33.5 million of loans that had been granted loan accommodations in accordance with Section 4013 of the CARES Act. The accommodations granted included $29.2 million of loans that are required to make interest only payments for periods up to December 31, 2021 and $4.3 million of loans that had their loan amortization period increased.� Of these loans, $5.7 million were classified but still accruing at June 30, 2021 and all of these loans were current with their agreed upon payments.� The commercial credit area continues to communicate regularly with the borrowers that have been granted loan accommodations and monitors their activity closely. �This information is used to analyze the performance of these loans and to anticipate any potential issues that these loans may develop so that risk ratings may be appropriately adjusted in a timely manner.� It is anticipated that most of the remaining borrowers that have been granted accommodations will be in a position to resume making their regular loan payments at the end of the initial accommodation period.� Other borrowers, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant industries, may need additional accommodations when their initial accommodation period ends as their operations may need more time to recover from the impact of the pandemic.

The allowance for loan losses is made up of general reserves on the entire loan portfolio and specific reserves on impaired loans.� The general reserve amount includes quantitative reserves based on our past loan loss history and qualitative reserves for other items determined to have a potential impact on future loan losses. The general reserves decreased during the period as a result of a decrease in the required qualitative reserves due to an improvement in the business activity because of the lessened impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting from increased vaccination rates and the removal of pandemic-focused restrictions during the period.� Despite the progress made in the vaccination of the general public during the period, it was determined that economic risks related to the pandemic continued to exist and more time was needed to prudently evaluate the impact that these risks would have on our loan portfolio before more qualitative reserves would be released from the allowance for loan losses.� Total non-performing assets were $1.8 million at June 30, 2021, a decrease of $1.5 million, or 47.2%, from $3.3 million at December 31, 2020.� Non-performing loans decreased $0.9 million and foreclosed and repossessed assets decreased $0.6 million during the first six months of 2021.��

A reconciliation of the Company�s allowance for loan losses for the six month periods ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 is summarized as follows:

The $0.7 million of recoveries relates primarily to a commercial loan in the transportation industry.

Non-Interest Income and Expense
Non-interest income was $8.0 million for the first six months of 2021, an increase of $1.9 million, or 31.9%, from $6.1 million for the first six months of 2020.� Other non-interest income increased $1.7 million due primarily to a $1.5 million gain that was realized on the sale of commercial real estate owned.� Loan servicing fees increased $0.2 million between the periods due to an increase in the aggregate balances of single family mortgage loans that were being serviced for others.� Fees and service charges increased $0.1 million between the periods due primarily to an increase in debit card income.� These increases in non-interest income were partially offset by a slight decrease in the gain on sales of loans primarily because of a decrease in single family loan originations and sales between the periods. ����� �
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Non-interest expense was $13.5 million for the first six months of 2021, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 1.4%, from $13.7 million for the first six months of 2020.� Professional services expense decreased $0.4 million between the periods primarily because of a decrease in legal expenses relating to an ongoing bankruptcy litigation claim.� Occupancy and equipment costs decreased slightly between the periods due to a decrease in depreciation and non-capitalized software costs. These decreases were partially offset by a $0.1 million increase in other non-interest expenses due primarily to an increase in FDIC insurance premiums between the periods, a $0.1 million increase in data processing expense between the periods due to an increase in debit card processing costs because of increased activity, and a $0.1 million increase in compensation and benefits expense due to a decrease in the direct loan origination compensation costs that were deferred as a result of the decreased mortgage loan production between the periods.
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Income tax expense was $3.2 million for the first six months of 2021, an increase of $1.6 million from $1.6 million for the first six months of 2020.� The increase in income tax expense between the periods is primarily the result of an increase in pre-tax income.��

Return on Assets and Equity
Return on average assets (annualized) for the six month period ended June 30, 2021 was 1.68%, compared to 1.01% for the same six month period in 2020.� Return on average equity (annualized) was 15.31% for the six month period ended June 30, 2021, compared to 8.65% for the same six month period in 2020.

General Information
HMN Financial, Inc. and the Bank are headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota. Home Federal Savings Bank operates twelve full service offices in Minnesota located in Albert Lea, Austin, Eagan, Kasson, La Crescent, Owatonna, Rochester (4), Spring Valley and Winona, one full service office in Marshalltown, Iowa, and one full service office in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The Bank also operates a loan origination office located in Sartell, Minnesota.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are often identified by such forward-looking terminology as �anticipate,� �believe,� �continue,� �could,� �may,� �project,� �will,� and �would,� or similar statements or variations of such terms and include, but are not limited to, those relating to maintaining credit quality,�and net interest margins; the adequacy and amount of available liquidity and capital resources to the Bank; the Company�s liquidity and capital requirements; anticipated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate the same on the general economy, our clients, deposit balances, and the allowance for loan losses; anticipated benefits that will be realized by our clients from government assistance programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the forgiveness of PPP loans; the amount of the Bank�s non-performing assets in future periods and the appropriateness of the allowances therefor; the payment of dividends or repurchases of stock by HMN; the projected changes in net interest income based on rate shocks; the range that interest rates may fluctuate over the next twelve months; the net market risk of interest rate shocks; the anticipated results of litigation and our assessment of the impact on our financial statements; the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to HMN; and compliance by the Bank with regulatory standards generally (including the Bank�s status as �well-capitalized�) and other supervisory directives or requirements to which the Company or the Bank are or may become expressly subject.

A number of factors, many of which may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate the same, could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company�s assumptions and expectations. These include but are not limited to the adequacy and marketability of real estate and other collateral securing loans to borrowers; federal and state regulation and enforcement; possible legislative and regulatory changes, including changes to regulatory capital rules; the ability of the Bank to comply with other applicable regulatory capital requirements; enforcement activity of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) in the event of our non-compliance with any applicable regulatory standard or requirement; adverse economic, business and competitive developments such as continued shrinking interest margins, reduced collateral values, deposit outflows, changes in credit or other risks posed by the Company�s loan and investment portfolios; changes in costs associated with traditional and alternate funding sources, including changes in collateral advance rates and policies of the Federal Home Loan Bank and the FRB; technological, computer-related or operational difficulties including those from any third party cyberattack; results of litigation; reduced demand for financial services and loan products; changes in accounting policies and guidelines, or monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government or tax laws; domestic and international economic developments; the Company�s access to and adverse changes in securities markets; the market for credit related assets; the future operating results, financial condition, cash flow requirements and capital spending priorities of the Company and the Bank; the availability of internal and, as required, external sources of funding; our ability to attract and retain employees; or other significant uncertainties. Additional factors that may cause actual results to differ from the Company�s assumptions and expectations include those set forth in the Company�s most recent filings on Form 10-K and 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are qualified by, and should be considered in conjunction with, such cautionary statements. For additional discussion of the risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company, see the �Risk Factors� section of the Company�s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and Part II, Item 1A of its subsequently filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
All statements in this press release, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

�(Three pages of selected consolidated financial information are included with this release.)