Form 8-K - Current report

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest reported): December 1, 2023

FIRST KEYSTONE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)


PENNSYLVANIA	000-21344	23-2249083
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission	(IRS Employer
of incorporation)	File Number)	Identification No.


111 West Front Street, Berwick, Pennsylvania	18603
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (570) 752-3671

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):


	☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)


	☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


	☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


	☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class	Trading symbol	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock	FKYS	OTC: Pink

ITEM 8.01. OTHER EVENTS

On December 1, 2023, First Keystone Corporation (the “Corporation”), parent company of First Keystone Community Bank, issued a press release reporting the declaration of their fourth quarter dividend. A copy of this press release is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(a) Not applicable

(b) Not applicable

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release of First Keystone Corporation dated December 1, 2023
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded in the Inline XBRL document).

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto duly authorized.


	FIRST KEYSTONE CORPORATION
	(Registrant)

	By:	/s/ Elaine A. Woodland
	Elaine A. Woodland
	President and CEO

	Date:	December 1, 2023

Exhibit 99.1

FIRST KEYSTONE CORPORATION ANNOUNCES

FOURTH QUARTER DIVIDEND

Berwick, Pennsylvania – December 1, 2023 - First Keystone Corporation (the “Corporation”) (OTC PINK: FKYS), parent company of First Keystone Community Bank, declared a $0.28 per share quarterly cash dividend to shareholders of record as of December 14, 2023, payable December 29, 2023.

Total cash dividends will be $1.12 per share as of December 31, 2023, the same amount paid for the period ending December 31, 2022.

During the third quarter of 2023, the Corporation again achieved some record balance sheet levels and continued profitability. Interest income increased $7,558,000 or 22.5% to $41,195,000 as of September 30, 2023 as compared to the same period in 2022. The increase was mainly the result of a $5,603,000 increase in interest and fees earned on loans and a $1,959,000 increase in interest and dividends earned on securities. Key performance indicators and balance sheet measures at September 30, 2023 and year-to-date income statement results as of September 30, 2023 vs. the same period in 2022:

●

Assets amounted to $1,319,714,000, a decrease of 0.3%

●

Total Net Loans grew 4.5% to $874,221,000

●

Total Deposits were $992,303,000, a 6.2% decrease

●

Interest income increased 22.5% to $41,195,000

●

Net interest income decreased 24.2% to $21,796,000

●

Net income decreased 65.2% to $3,779,000 and 65.9% to $0.62/share

●

Return on assets of 0.38%

●

Return on equity of 4.06%

The Corporation looks forward to being the financial services provider of choice to our customers and the communities we serve.

Management considers subsequent events occurring after the balance sheet date for matters which may require adjustment to, or disclosure in, the consolidated financial statements. The review period for subsequent events extends up to and including the filing date of a public company’s consolidated financial statements when filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, the financial information in this announcement is subject to change.

First Keystone Community Bank provides innovative business and personal banking products that focus on “Yesterday’s Traditions. Tomorrow’s Vision.” The Bank currently operates offices in Columbia (5), Luzerne (8), Montour (1), Monroe (4), and Northampton (1) counties.

Inquiries regarding the purchase of the Corporation’s stock may be made through the following brokers: RBC Dain Rauscher, 800-223-4207; Janney Montgomery Scott, Inc., 800-526-6397; Boenning & Scattergood, Inc., 800-883-1212; and Stifel Nicolaus & Co. Inc., 800-679-5446.

Note: This press release may contain forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors. These factors include operating, legal and regulatory risks, changing economic and competitive conditions and other risks and uncertainties.

For more information on First Keystone Community Bank or its parent company, First Keystone Corporation, please contact Elaine A. Woodland at 570-752-3671.

Document and Entity Information	Dec. 01, 2023
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	FIRST KEYSTONE CORPORATION
Document Type	8-K
Entity File Number	000-21344
Entity Tax Identification Number	23-2249083
Document Period End Date	Dec. 01, 2023
Entity Address, Address Line One	111 West Front Street
Entity Address, City or Town	Berwick
Entity Address, State or Province	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	18603
City Area Code	570
Local Phone Number	752-3671
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Amendment Flag	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock
Trading Symbol	FKYS
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	PA
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000737875