Financial Performance - Net core earnings for the third quarter were 9.7million,comparedto9.8 million in the second quarter of 2021 and 11.1millioninthethirdquarterof2020[194].−NetearningsfortheninemonthsendedSeptember30,2021,were30.6 million, compared to 17.5millionforthesameperiodin2020,representinga75.59.3 million, compared to 10.1millionforthesameperiodin2020,withbasicearningspersharedecreasingfrom0.84 to 0.77[269].LoanandAssetGrowth−Loansgrewby132.8 million, or 7.5%, during the third quarter, and by 168.6million,or9.855.8 million, or 3.0%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to the same period in 2020[232]. - Total loans amounted to 1,906,989thousand,withanaverageyieldof4.881.97 billion, an increase of 104.1million,or5.61.87 billion at the end of 2020[304]. Credit Quality and Allowance for Credit Losses - Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets were 0.11% at September 30, 2021, down from 0.53% at September 30, 2020[194]. - The provision for credit losses was 1.7millionfortheninemonthsendedSeptember30,2021,comparedto13.2 million for the same period in 2020[229]. - The total allowance for credit losses was adjusted from 55 basis points to 14.75 basis points across the loan portfolio during the first three quarters of 2021[246]. - The total allowance for credit losses (ACL) was 30.6million,representing1.5533.6 million or 1.80% as of December 31, 2020[327]. Interest Income and Margin - Net interest income before the reverse provision for credit losses increased by 5.5million,or8.371.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021[232]. - The net interest margin on a taxable equivalent basis was 3.56% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, down from 3.75% for the same period in 2020[234]. - The net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2021, was 3.40%, down from 3.61% in the same period of 2020[275]. Deposits and Funding - The average deposit balance increased by 126.4million,or8.62.56 billion as of September 30, 2021, an increase of 276.7million,or12.12.29 billion as of December 31, 2020[346]. - Noninterest-bearing demand accounts increased by 195.8million,or28.11696.5 million as of December 31, 2020 to 892.3millionasofSeptember30,2021[347].NoninterestIncomeandExpenses−Noninterestincomeroseby1,927 thousand, or 11.6%, totaling 18,538thousandfortheninemonthsendedSeptember30,2021,comparedto16,611 thousand in 2020[248]. - Noninterest expense totaled 54.3millionfortheninemonthsendedSeptember30,2021,anincreaseof12.348.3 million in the same period of 2020[257]. - Employee compensation and benefits rose to 31.1millionfortheninemonthsendedSeptember30,2021,reflectinga15.427.0 million in the prior year[258]. Tax and Regulatory Capital - The effective tax rate increased to 18.22% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to 17.09% for the same period in 2020, with income tax expense rising to 6.8millionfrom3.6 million[267]. - As of September 30, 2021, Guaranty Bancshares, Inc. reported total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 14.13%, up from 13.20% as of December 31, 2020[368]. - The company was classified as "well capitalized" under prompt corrective action regulations as of September 30, 2021[367]. Economic Impact and Future Outlook - The impact of COVID-19 continues to create uncertainties regarding future economic conditions and credit quality[191]. - The company expects to manage interest rate risk effectively, with a target that net income at risk should not decline by more than 15.0% for a 100 basis point shift in interest rates[383]. - A simulated increase of 300 basis points in interest rates could lead to a 6.69% increase in net interest income as of September 30, 2021[384].