Live Oak Bank's earnings per share inched higher than that of the first quarter of 2019, according to the bank's Q2 earnings call after markets closed Wednesday.

For the second quarter of 2019, officials reported net earnings available to common shareholders of $4.9 million, or 12 cents per diluted share. This figure was twice the EPS the bank reported for Q1 of 2019, but down from that of Q2 of 2018, when Live Oak reported net earnings of $14.3 million and EPS of 34 cents.

Several key indicators were heading upward from the first quarter of this year, according to the Q2 report. Net income was twice its Q1 level, at about $4.9 million, but significantly lagged that of the previous year's second quarter, which was $14.3 million.

Net interest income and servicing revenues of almost $41 million, however, were up compared both with the previous quarter's and those of a year ago. In Q2 of 2018, those revenues were about $34 million; last quarter they were $38 million.

Loans and leases originated in the past quarter totaled just over $525 million, a significant increase from originations of nearly $391 million in the first quarter of 2019 and up from nearly $492 million in Q2 2018.

“We continue to deliver on our commitment to generate a more predictable earnings stream while executing our long-term objective to be a major force in the delivery of financial services to small businesses nationwide through technological innovation," CEO Chip Mahan said in a release.

Mahan also spoke to areas of improvement shown in the second quarter report.

"As we continue to hold a greater portion of our guaranteed loans, recurring revenues grew 21% compared to a year ago and exceeded our operating expenses," he said. "The loan and lease portfolio grew 35% over the prior year, reflecting solid efforts of our people to serve the needs of small businesses while also promoting greater financial stability and consistency for Live Oak."